Novel peptides and combination of peptides for use in immunotherapy against NHL and other cancers

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/297,495, filed 19 Feb. 2016, and Great Britain Application No.1602918.3, filed 19 Feb. 2016, the content of each of these applicationsis herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

This application also is related to PCT/EP2017/053704 filed 17 Feb.2017, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED AS A COMPLIANT ASCII TEXT FILE(.TXT)

Pursuant to the EFS-Web legal framework and 37 CFR §§1.821-825 (see MPEP§2442.03(a)), a Sequence Listing in the form of an ASCII-compliant textfile (entitled “Sequence_Listing_2912919-062001_ST25.txt” created on 16Feb. 2017, and 51,091 bytes in size) is submitted concurrently with theinstant application, and the entire contents of the Sequence Listing areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids andcells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the presentinvention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present inventionfurthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, aloneor in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can forexample serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccinecompositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulateT cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to moleculesof the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, canalso be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and otherbinding molecules.

The present invention relates to several novel peptide sequences andtheir variants derived from HLA class I molecules of human tumor cellsthat can be used in vaccine compositions for eliciting anti-tumor immuneresponses, or as targets for the development ofpharmaceutically/immunologically active compounds and cells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) are a heterogeneous group oflymphoproliferative diseases. NHL usually originates in lymphoid tissuesand can spread to other organs (National Cancer Institute, 2015).

NHL is the seventh most common type of cancer and represents 4.3% of allnew cancer cases in the U.S. (SEER Stat facts, 2014). It is the mostcommon hematological malignancy both in Europe and the U.S. (Inoges etal., 2014).

The probability to develop NHL increases with age: The median age at thetime point of diagnosis is 66 years. NHL is more common in people ofCaucasian descent (21 cases per 100,000 persons), followed by Africans(15 cases per 100,000 persons) and Asians (14 cases per 100,000persons). Men have a higher risk to develop NHL than women (23.9 casesper 100,000 males vs. 16.3 cases per 100,000 females) (SEER Stat facts,2014).

The 5-year relative survival of NHL patients is 70% and varies with thecancer stage at the time point of diagnosis. For localized disease, the5-year relative survival is 82%. If NHL has spread to different parts ofthe body, the 5-year relative survival decreases to 73.8% for regionaland 62.4% for distant stage disease (SEER Stat facts, 2014). Riskfactors include (high) age, male gender, ethnicity (Caucasian), exposureto benzene or radiation, HIV, autoimmune diseases, infections withHTLV-1, EBV or HHV8, infections with Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydophilapsittaci, Campylobacter jejuni or HCV, (high) body weight and breastimplants (American Cancer Society, 2015).

NHL has over 60 subtypes. The three most common subtypes are diffuselarge B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, the most common subtype), follicularlymphoma (FL, the second most common subtype) and small lymphocyticlymphoma/chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL/CLL, the third most commonsubtype). DLBCL, FL and SLL/CLL account for about 85% of NHL (Li et al.,2015).

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common NHL type andcomprises 30% of all NHLs. DLBCL belongs to the aggressive NHL subtypesand most patients show a quickly progressing disease. The InternationalPrognostic Index (IPI) for aggressive NHL uses five significant riskfactors prognostic for overall survival:

1. Age (≦60 years vs.>60 years)2. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (normal vs. elevated)3. Performance status (0 or 1 vs. 2-4)4. Stage (stage I or II vs. stage III or IV)5. Extranodal site involvement (0 or 1 vs. 2-4).

Patients with two or more risk factors have a less than 50% chance ofrelapse-free survival and overall survival at 5 years. Patients withrearrangements of the bcl-2 and myc gene and/or overexpression of mychave a particularly poor prognosis. DLBCL patients co-expressing CD20and CD30 have a more favorable prognosis and are predestined for ananti-CD30-specific therapy (National Cancer Institute, 2015).

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the second most common NHL type andcomprises 20% of all NHLs and 70% of all indolent lymphomas. More than90% of the patients exhibit rearrangement of the bcl-2 gene. Mostpatients are 50 years or older at the time point of diagnosis and haveadvanced stage disease. The Follicular Lymphoma International PrognosticIndex (FLIPI) uses five significant risk factors prognostic for overallsurvival:

1. Age (≦60 years vs.>60 years)2. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (normal vs. elevated)3. Stage (stage I or II vs. stage III or IV)4. Hemoglobin level (≧120 g/L vs.<120 g/L)5. Number of nodal areas (≦vs.>4).

Patients with none or one risk factor have an 85% 10-year survival rate.Patients with three or more risk factors have a 40% 10-year survivalrate (National Cancer Institute, 2015).

Diagnosis of NHL is done on an excisional biopsy of an abnormal lymphnode or an incisional biopsy of an involved organ. Besidesimmunohistochemistry, cytogenetics, molecular genetics and fluorescentin situ hybridization (FISH) are used to clarify the diagnosis(Armitage, 2007).

Staging is done after the evaluation of the patients' history, physicalexamination and laboratory studies including hematologic parameters,screening chemistry studies and especially a test for serum lactatedehydrogenase (LDH) level. Imaging studies include computed tomograms ofthe chest, abdomen and pelvis and a PET scan (Armitage, 2007).

Determining for prognosis and treatment decision is the differentiationbetween indolent NHL types and aggressive NHLs. Indolent NHLs progressslowly, have a good prognosis and respond in early stages to radiationtherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but are not curable in advancedstages. Aggressive NHLs progress quickly, but are responsive tointensive combination chemotherapy (National Cancer Institute, 2015).

Depending on the disease stage at the time point of diagnosis patientsare classified into prognostic groups (National Cancer Institute, 2015)as follows:

Stage Prognostic groups I Involvement of a single lymphatic site (nodalregion, Waldeyer ring, thymus or spleen (I). Localized involvement of asingle extra-lymphatic organ or site in the absence of any lymph nodeinvolvement (IE). II Involvement of two or more lymph node regions onthe same side of the diaphragm (II). Localized involvement of a singleextra-lymphatic organ or site in association with regional lymph nodeinvolvement with or without involvement of other lymph node regions onthe same side of the diaphragm (IIE). The number of regions involved maybe indicated by a subscript Arabic numeral (for example II3). IIIInvolvement of lymph node regions on both sides of the diaphragm (III),which also may be accompanied by extra-lymphatic extension inassociation with adjacent lymph node involvement (IIIE) or byinvolvement of the spleen (IIIS) or both (IIIE, IIIS). IV Diffuse ordisseminated involvement of one or more extra- lymphatic organs, with orwithout associated lymph node involvement. Isolated extra-lymphaticorgan involvement in the absence of adjacent regional lymph nodeinvolvement, but in conjunction with disease in distant site(s). StageIV includes any involvement of the liver or bone marrow, lungs (otherthan by direct extension from another site), or cerebrospinal fluid.

The Ann Arbor staging system is usually used for patients with NHL. Inthis system, stage I, stage II, stage III and stage IV aresub-classified in to the categories A and B. Patients with well-definedgeneralized symptoms receive the designation B, while patients withoutthese symptoms belong to category A. Category B symptoms includeunexplained loss of more than 10% of body weight in the six monthsbefore diagnosis, unexplained fever with temperatures above 38° C. anddrenching night sweats. Specialized designations are used depending onthe involvement of specific organs/sites (National Cancer Institute,2015) as follows:

Designation Specific sites E Extranodal lymphoid malignancies near majorlymphatic aggregates N Nodes H Liver L Lung M Bone marrow S Spleen PPleura O Bone D Skin

To assign a precise stage, patients receive a clinical stage (CS) basedon the findings of the clinical evaluation and a pathologic stage (PS)based on the findings of invasive procedures beyond the initial biopsy(National Cancer Institute, 2015).

Treatment of NHL depends on the histologic type and stage. Standardtreatment options include (National Cancer Institute, 2015):

Stage Standard treatment option Indolent, Radiation therapy stage I andcontiguous Rituximab ± chemotherapy stage II NHL Watchful waiting Othertherapies as designated for patients with advanced-stage diseaseIndolent, Watchful waiting for asymptomatic non-contiguous stagepatients II/III/IV NHL Rituximab Purine nucleoside analogs Alkylatingagents ± steroids Combination chemotherapy Yttrium-90-labeledibritumomab tiuxetan Maintenance rituximab Indolent, Chemotherapy(single agent or Recurrent NHL combination) Rituximab LenalidomideRadiolabeled anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies Palliative radiationtherapy Aggressive, R-CHOP ± (involved-field radiation stage I andcontiguous therapy) IF-XRT stage II NHL Aggressive, R-CHOPnon-contiguous stage Other combination chemotherapy II/III/IV NHLLymphoblastic lymphoma Intensive therapy Radiation therapy Diffuse,small, noncleaved- Aggressive multi-drug regimens cell/Burkitt lymphomaCentral nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis Aggressive, Bone marrow or stemcell transplantation recurrent NHL Re-treatment with standard agentsPalliative radiation therapy

Indolent, stage I and contiguous stage II NHL: Standard treatmentoptions include radiation therapy, rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonalantibody)±chemotherapy, watchful waiting and other therapies asdesignated for patients with advanced-stage disease.

Indolent, non-contiguous stage II/III/IV NHL: Standard treatment optionsinclude watchful waiting for asymptomatic patients, rituximab,obinutuzumab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody), purine nucleoside analogs(fludarabine, 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine), alkylating agents(cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil)±steroids, bendamustine, combinationchemotherapy (CVP, C-MOPP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine,and prednisone), CHOP, FND (fludarabine, mitoxantrone±dexamethasone)),yttrium-labeled ibritumomab tiuxetan and maintenance rituximab.Rituximab (R) is considered first-line therapy, either alone or incombination with other agents (R-Bendamustine, R-F (fludarabine), R-CVP(cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone), R-CHOP(cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone), R-FM(fludarabine, mitoxantrone), R-FCM (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, andmitoxantrone)). Under clinical evaluation are bone marrowtransplantation (BMT) or peripheral stem cell transplantation (PSCT),idiotype vaccines and radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (ofatumumab:anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody).

Indolent, recurrent NHL: Standard treatment options include chemotherapy(single agent or combination), rituximab, lenalidomide, radiolabeledanti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (yttrium-90 ibritumomab) and palliativeradiation therapy. Treatment options under clinical evaluation includeSCTs.

Aggressive, stage I and contiguous stage II NHL: Standard treatmentoptions include R-CHOP±IF-XRT. Treatment options under clinicalevaluation include R-ACVBP (rituximab+doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide,vindesine, bleomycin, prednisone).

Aggressive, non-contiguous stage II/III/1V NHL: Standard treatmentoptions include combination chemotherapy±local-field radiation therapy.Drug combinations include ACVBP, CHOP, CNOP (cyclophosphamide,mitoxantrone, vincristine, prednisone), m-BACOD (methotrexate,bleomycin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, dexamethasone,leucovorin), MACOP-B (methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide,vincristine, prednisone fixed dose, bleomycin, leucovorin), ProMACECytaBOM (prednisone, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide,cytarabine, bleomycin, vincristine, methotrexate, leucovorin), R-CHOP.Under clinical evaluation are BMT and SCT.

Lymphoblastic lymphoma: Standard treatment options include intensivetherapy and radiation therapy.

Diffuse, small noncleaved-cell/Burkitt lymphoma: Standard treatmentoptions include aggressive multidrug regimens and CNS prophylaxis.

Aggressive, recurrent NHL: Standard treatment options include BMT orSCT, re-treatment with standard agents (rituximab, radiolabeledanti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, denileukin diftitox (a fusion proteincombining diphtheria toxin and interleukin-2)) and palliative radiationtherapy. Treatment options under clinical evaluation include SCT(National Cancer Institute, 2015).

Spontaneous tumor regression can be observed in lymphoma patients.Therefore, active immunotherapy is a therapy option (Palomba, 2012). Animportant vaccination option includes Id vaccines. B lymphocytes expresssurface immunoglobulins with a specific amino acid sequence in thevariable regions of their heavy and light chains, unique to each cellclone (=idiotype, Id). The idiotype functions as a tumor associatedantigen.

Passive immunization includes the injection of recombinant murineanti-Id monoclonal antibodies alone or in combination with IFN alpha,IL2 or chlorambucil.

Active immunization includes the injection of recombinant protein (Id)conjugated to an adjuvant (KLH), given together with GM-CSF as an immuneadjuvant. Tumor-specific Id is produced by hybridoma cultures or usingrecombinant DNA technology (plasmids) by bacterial, insect or mammaliancell culture.

Three phase III clinical trials have been conducted (Biovest, Genitope,Favrille). In two trials patients had received rituximab. GM-CSF wasadministered in all three trials. Biovest used hybridoma-producedprotein, Genitope and Favrille used recombinant protein. In all threetrials Id was conjugated to KLH. Only Biovest had a significant result.

Vaccines other than Id include the cancer-testis antigens MAGE, NY-ESO1and PASD-1, the B-cell antigen CD20 or cellular vaccines. The vaccinesconsist of DCs pulsed with apoptotic tumor cells, tumor cell lysate,DC-tumor cell fusion or DCs pulsed with tumor-derived RNA. In situvaccination involves the vaccination with intra-tumoral CpG incombination with chemotherapy or irradiated tumor cells grown in thepresence of GM-CSF and collection/expansion/re-infusion of T cells.

Vaccinations with antibodies that alter immunologic checkpoints arecomprised of anti-CD40, anti-OX40, anti-41BB, anti-CD27, anti-GITR(agonist antibodies that directly enhance anti-tumor response) oranti-PD1, anti-CTLA-4 (blocking antibodies that inhibit the checkpointthat would hinder the immune response). Examples are ipilimumab(anti-CTLA-4) and CT-011 (anti-PD1) (Palomba, 2012).

Considering the severe side-effects and expense associated with treatingcancer, there is a need to identify factors that can be used in thetreatment of cancer in general and NHL in particular. There is also aneed to identify factors representing biomarkers for cancer in generaland NHL in particular, leading to better diagnosis of cancer, assessmentof prognosis, and prediction of treatment success.

Immunotherapy of cancer represents an option of specific targeting ofcancer cells while minimizing side effects. Cancer immunotherapy makesuse of the existence of tumor associated antigens.

The current classification of tumor associated antigens (TAAs) comprisesthe following major groups:

a) Cancer-testis antigens: The first TAAs ever identified that can berecognized by T cells belong to this class, which was originally calledcancer-testis (CT) antigens because of the expression of its members inhistologically different human tumors and, among normal tissues, only inspermatocytes/spermatogonia of testis and, occasionally, in placenta.Since the cells of testis do not express class I and II HLA molecules,these antigens cannot be recognized by T cells in normal tissues and cantherefore be considered as immunologically tumor-specific. Well-knownexamples for CT antigens are the MAGE family members and NY-ESO-1.b) Differentiation antigens: These TAAs are shared between tumors andthe normal tissue from which the tumor arose. Most of the knowndifferentiation antigens are found in melanomas and normal melanocytes.Many of these melanocyte lineage-related proteins are involved inbiosynthesis of melanin and are therefore not tumor specific butnevertheless are widely used for cancer immunotherapy. Examples include,but are not limited to, tyrosinase and Melan-A/MART-1 for melanoma orPSA for prostate cancer.c) Over-expressed TAAs: Genes encoding widely expressed TAAs have beendetected in histologically different types of tumors as well as in manynormal tissues, generally with lower expression levels. It is possiblethat many of the epitopes processed and potentially presented by normaltissues are below the threshold level for T-cell recognition, whiletheir over-expression in tumor cells can trigger an anticancer responseby breaking previously established tolerance. Prominent examples forthis class of TAAs are Her-2/neu, survivin, telomerase, or WT1.d) Tumor-specific antigens: These unique TAAs arise from mutations ofnormal genes (such as β-catenin, CDK4, etc.). Some of these molecularchanges are associated with neoplastic transformation and/orprogression. Tumor-specific antigens are generally able to induce strongimmune responses without bearing the risk for autoimmune reactionsagainst normal tissues. On the other hand, these TAAs are in most casesonly relevant to the exact tumor on which they were identified and areusually not shared between many individual tumors. Tumor-specificity (or-association) of a peptide may also arise if the peptide originates froma tumor- (-associated) exon in case of proteins with tumor-specific(-associated) isoforms.e) TAAs arising from abnormal post-translational modifications: SuchTAAs may arise from proteins which are neither specific noroverexpressed in tumors but nevertheless become tumor associated byposttranslational processes primarily active in tumors. Examples forthis class arise from altered glycosylation patterns leading to novelepitopes in tumors as for MUC1 or events like protein splicing duringdegradation which may or may not be tumor specific.f) Oncoviral proteins: These TAAs are viral proteins that may play acritical role in the oncogenic process and, because they are foreign(not of human origin), they can evoke a T-cell response. Examples ofsuch proteins are the human papilloma type 16 virus proteins, E6 and E7,which are expressed in cervical carcinoma.

T-cell based immunotherapy targets peptide epitopes derived fromtumor-associated or tumor-specific proteins, which are presented bymolecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The antigensthat are recognized by the tumor specific T lymphocytes, that is, theepitopes thereof, can be molecules derived from all protein classes,such as enzymes, receptors, transcription factors, etc. which areexpressed and, as compared to unaltered cells of the same origin,usually up-regulated in cells of the respective tumor.

There are two classes of MHC-molecules, MHC class I and MHC class II.MHC class I molecules are composed of an alpha heavy chain andbeta-2-microglobulin, MHC class II molecules of an alpha and a betachain. Their three-dimensional conformation results in a binding groove,which is used for non-covalent interaction with peptides.

MHC class I molecules can be found on most nucleated cells. They presentpeptides that result from proteolytic cleavage of predominantlyendogenous proteins, defective ribosomal products (DRIPs) and largerpeptides. However, peptides derived from endosomal compartments orexogenous sources are also frequently found on MHC class I molecules.This non-classical way of class I presentation is referred to ascross-presentation in the literature (Brossart and Bevan, 1997; Rock etal., 1990). MHC class II molecules can be found predominantly onprofessional antigen presenting cells (APCs), and primarily presentpeptides of exogenous or transmembrane proteins that are taken up byAPCs e.g. during endocytosis, and are subsequently processed. Complexesof peptide and MHC class I are recognized by CD8-positive T cellsbearing the appropriate T-cell receptor (TCR), whereas complexes ofpeptide and MHC class II molecules are recognized byCD4-positive-helper-T cells bearing the appropriate TCR. It is wellknown that the TCR, the peptide and the MHC are thereby present in astoichiometric amount of 1:1:1.

CD4-positive helper T cells play an important role in inducing andsustaining effective responses by CD8-positive cytotoxic T cells. Theidentification of CD4-positive T-cell epitopes derived from tumorassociated antigens (TAA) is of great importance for the development ofpharmaceutical products for triggering anti-tumor immune responses(Gnjatic et al., 2003). At the tumor site, T helper cells, support acytotoxic T cell- (CTL-) friendly cytokine milieu (Mortara et al., 2006)and attract effector cells, e.g. CTLs, natural killer (NK) cells,macrophages, and granulocytes (Hwang et al., 2007).

In the absence of inflammation, expression of MHC class II molecules ismainly restricted to cells of the immune system, especially professionalantigen-presenting cells (APC), e.g., monocytes, monocyte-derived cells,macrophages, dendritic cells. In cancer patients, cells of the tumorhave been found to express MHC class II molecules (Dengjel et al.,2006).

Elongated (longer) peptides of the invention can act as MHC class IIactive epitopes. T-helper cells, activated by MHC class II epitopes,play an important role in orchestrating the effector function of CTLs inanti-tumor immunity. T-helper cell epitopes that trigger a T-helper cellresponse of the TH1 type support effector functions of CD8-positivekiller T cells, which include cytotoxic functions directed against tumorcells displaying tumor-associated peptide/MHC complexes on their cellsurfaces. In this way tumor-associated T-helper cell peptide epitopes,alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides, can serveas active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions thatstimulate anti-tumor immune responses.

It was shown in mammalian animal models, e.g., mice, that even in theabsence of CD8-positive T lymphocytes, CD4-positive T cells aresufficient for inhibiting manifestation of tumors via inhibition ofangiogenesis by secretion of interferon-gamma (IFNγ) (Beatty andPaterson, 2001; Mumberg et al., 1999). There is evidence for CD4 T cellsas direct anti-tumor effectors (Braumuller et al., 2013; Tran et al.,2014).

Since the constitutive expression of HLA class II molecules is usuallylimited to immune cells, the possibility of isolating class II peptidesdirectly from primary tumors was previously not considered possible.However, Dengjel et al. were successful in identifying a number of MHCClass II epitopes directly from tumors (WO 2007/028574, EP 1 760 088B1).

Since both types of response, CD8 and CD4 dependent, contribute jointlyand synergistically to the anti-tumor effect, the identification andcharacterization of tumor-associated antigens recognized by either CD8+T cells (ligand: MHC class I molecule+peptide epitope) or byCD4-positive T-helper cells (ligand: MHC class II molecule+peptideepitope) is important in the development of tumor vaccines.

For an MHC class I peptide to trigger (elicit) a cellular immuneresponse, it also must bind to an MHC-molecule. This process isdependent on the allele of the MHC-molecule and specific polymorphismsof the amino acid sequence of the peptide. MHC-class-1-binding peptidesare usually 8-12 amino acid residues in length and usually contain twoconserved residues (“anchors”) in their sequence that interact with thecorresponding binding groove of the MHC-molecule. In this way, each MHCallele has a “binding motif” determining which peptides can bindspecifically to the binding groove.

In the MHC class I dependent immune reaction, peptides not only have tobe able to bind to certain MHC class I molecules expressed by tumorcells, they subsequently also have to be recognized by T cells bearingspecific T cell receptors (TCR).

For proteins to be recognized by T-lymphocytes as tumor-specific or-associated antigens, and to be used in a therapy, particularprerequisites must be fulfilled. The antigen should be expressed mainlyby tumor cells and not, or in comparably small amounts, by normalhealthy tissues. In a preferred embodiment, the peptide should beover-presented by tumor cells as compared to normal healthy tissues. Itis furthermore desirable that the respective antigen is not only presentin a type of tumor, but also in high concentrations (i.e. copy numbersof the respective peptide per cell). Tumor-specific and tumor-associatedantigens are often derived from proteins directly involved intransformation of a normal cell to a tumor cell due to their function,e.g. in cell cycle control or suppression of apoptosis. Additionally,downstream targets of the proteins directly causative for atransformation may be up-regulated and thus may be indirectlytumor-associated. Such indirect tumor-associated antigens may also betargets of a vaccination approach (Singh-Jasuja et al., 2004). It isessential that epitopes are present in the amino acid sequence of theantigen, in order to ensure that such a peptide (“immunogenic peptide”),being derived from a tumor associated antigen, leads to an in vitro orin vivo T-cell-response.

Basically, any peptide able to bind an MHC molecule may function as aT-cell epitope. A prerequisite for the induction of an in vitro or invivo T-cell-response is the presence of a T cell having a correspondingTCR and the absence of immunological tolerance for this particularepitope.

Therefore, TAAs are a starting point for the development of a T cellbased therapy including but not limited to tumor vaccines. The methodsfor identifying and characterizing the TAAs are usually based on the useof T-cells that can be isolated from patients or healthy subjects, orthey are based on the generation of differential transcription profilesor differential peptide expression patterns between tumors and normaltissues. However, the identification of genes over-expressed in tumortissues or human tumor cell lines, or selectively expressed in suchtissues or cell lines, does not provide precise information as to theuse of the antigens being transcribed from these genes in an immunetherapy. This is because only an individual subpopulation of epitopes ofthese antigens are suitable for such an application, since a T cell witha corresponding TCR has to be present and the immunological tolerancefor this particular epitope needs to be absent or minimal. In a verypreferred embodiment of the invention it is therefore important toselect only those over- or selectively presented peptides against whicha functional and/or a proliferating T cell can be found. Such afunctional T cell is defined as a T cell, which upon stimulation with aspecific antigen can be clonally expanded and is able to executeeffector functions (“effector T cell”).

In case of targeting peptide-MHC by specific TCRs (e.g. soluble TCRs)and antibodies or other binding molecules (scaffolds) according to theinvention, the immunogenicity of the underlying peptides is secondary.In these cases, the presentation is the determining factor.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect of the present invention, the present inventionrelates to a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from thegroup consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311 or a variant sequencethereof which is at least 77%, preferably at least 88%, homologous(preferably at least 77% or at least 88% identical) to SEQ ID NO: 1 toSEQ ID NO: 311, wherein said variant binds to MHC and/or induces T cellscross-reacting with said peptide, or a pharmaceutical acceptable saltthereof, wherein said peptide is not the underlying full-lengthpolypeptide.

The present invention further relates to a peptide of the presentinvention comprising a sequence that is selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311 or a variant thereof, whichis at least 77%, preferably at least 88%, homologous (preferably atleast 77% or at least 88% identical) to SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311,wherein said peptide or variant thereof has an overall length of between8 and 100, preferably between 8 and 30, and most preferred of between 8and 14 amino acids.

The following tables show the peptides according to the presentinvention, their respective SEQ ID NOs, and the prospective source(underlying) genes for these peptides. All peptides in Table 1 and Table2 bind to HLA-A*02. The peptides in Table 2 have been disclosed beforein large listings as results of high-throughput screenings with higherror rates or calculated using algorithms, but have not been associatedwith cancer at all before. The peptides in Table 3 are additionalpeptides that may be useful in combination with the other peptides ofthe invention. The peptides in Tables 4A and B are furthermore useful inthe diagnosis and/or treatment of various other malignancies thatinvolve an over-expression or over-presentation of the respectiveunderlying polypeptide.

TABLE 1 Peptides according to the present invention. SEQ ID No. SequenceGeneID(s) Official Gene Symbol(s) 1 LLSGQLPTI 84969 TOX2 2 LLSEETPSA10765 KDM5B 3 LTIDTQYYL 5422 POLA1 4 TLLGFFLAKV 5422 POLA1 5 VLQGLTFTL6890 TAP1 6 TLITLPLLFL 6890 TAP1 7 NLLGMIFSM 51398 WDR83OS 8 ALYAVIEKA5293 PIK3CD 9 FLLDLDPLL 7915 ALDH5A1 10 FLLVGTQIDL 643751, 998CDC42P6, CDC42 11 GLDTVVALL 23203 PMPCA 12 GLLLLVPLL 145864 HAPLN3 13HLVPASWKL 3718 JAK3 14 LLSDPTPGA 3718 JAK3 15 IIIEDLLEA 10985 GCN1L1 16TLIAAILYL 5355 PLP2 17 VIIPLLSSV 91526 ANKRD44 18 KLTDQPPLV 91526ANKRD44 19 VLEAILPLV 2889 RAPGEF1 20 YLIAGGDRWL 2646 GCKR 21 ALFKEAYSL55732 C1orf112 22 ALKKHLTSV 10773 ZBTB6 23 ALVEDIINL 92399 MRRF 24AVLGFSFRL 80222 TARS2 25 FLDTSNQHLL 4064 CD180 26 FLGSFIDHV 91147 TMEM6727 FLNQESFDL 6610 SMPD2 28 FLSNANPSL 7818 DAP3 29 ILSDVTQGL 55591 VEZT30 ILSTLDVEL 10744, 9232 PTTG2, PTTG1 31 KLYDEESLL 57680 CHD8 32VLNEDELPSV 57680 CHD8 33 LLANIVPIAMLV 4539, 6775071, MT-ND4L 8923201 34LLWEDGVTEA 22916 NCBP2 35 SLSSERYYL 8320 EOMES 36 VILDIPLLFET 79877DCAKD 37 VLGNALEGV 4678 NASP 38 YLTAEILELAGN 221613, 3012,HIST1H2AA, HIST1H2AE, 3013, 3014, 317772, HIST1H2AD, H2AFX,55766, 723790, 8329, HIST2H2AB, H2AFJ, 8330, 8331, 8332,HIST2H2AA4, HIST1H2A1, 8334, 8335, 8336, HIST1H2AK, HIST1H2AJ,8337, 8338, 85235, HIST1H2AL, HIST1H2AC, 8969, 92815, 9555HIST1H2AB, HIST1H2AM, HIST2H2AA3, HIST2H2AC, HIST1H2AH, HIST1H2AG,HIST3H2A, H2AFY 39 QLLPQGIVPAL 55374 TMCO6 40 FLNSVIVDL 6249 CLIP1 41ILASIFETV 6574 SLC20A1 42 YLQDLVERA 10347 ABCA7 43 ALLEGVKNV 84678 KDM2B44 FIIEEQSFL 10200 MPHOSPH6 45 FILDDSALYL 23130 ATG2A 46 FLVEEIFQT 8888MCM3AP 47 GLLPKLTAL 22920 KIFAP3 48 KILDEDLYI 641 BLM 49 TILGDPQILL23460 ABCA6 50 LLLDGLIYL 23460 ABCA6 51 SLLGNSPVL 23460 ABCA6 52VLLEDVDAAFL 617 BCS1L 53 FLREYFERL 5573 PRKAR1A 54 DIFDAMFSV 5573PRKAR1A 55 ILVEVDLVQA 4261 CIITA 56 GLQDLLFSL 4261 CIITA 57 LQIGDFVSV51167 CYB5R4 58 QLAPFLPQL 23392 KIAA0368 59 RLHREVAQV 2802 GOLGA3 60SLLIDVITV 51534 VTA1 61 SLLNKDLSL 1786 DNMT1 62 ALAPYLDLL 54093 SETD4 63ALIEEAYGL 3836, 3841 KPNA1, KPNA5 64 FLVEVSNDV 23224 SYNE2 65 NLTDVSPDL23224 SYNE2 66 KLAPIPVEL 153241 CEP120 67 LLATVNVAL 23511 NUP188 68QIAAFLFTV 56006 SMG9 69 TLLAFPLLL 84720 PIGO 70 VLIEILQKA 23633, 3841KPNA6, KPNA5 71 VLLDYVGNVQL 51676 ASB2 72 TLQEETAVYL 51676 ASB2 73YLGEEYPEV 23451 SF3B1 74 SLDLRPLEV 43 ACHE 75 AALKYIPSV 1794 DOCK2 76ALADLVPVDVVV 84188 FAR1 77 ALLDVSNNYGI 115752 DIS3L 78 AMEEAVAQV 22897CEP164 79 AMKEEKEQL 9126 SMC3 80 YLFDEIDQA 9126 SMC3 81 FIFSYITAV 128338DRAM2 82 FLIDGSSSV 1690 COCH 83 FLMDDNMSNTL 4603 MYBL1 84 FLQELQLEHA8604 SLC25A12 85 GLAPAEVVVATVA 57591 MKL1 86 GLATIRAYL 2731 GLDC 87GLFARIIMI 5250 SLC25A3 88 GLFDNRSGLPEA 79733 E2F8 89 GLTALHVAV 602 BCL390 HLDEVFLEL 55744 COA1 91 HLSSTTAQV 201633 TIGIT 92 KLLFEIASA 124460SNX20 93 KLLGSLQLL 81603 TRIM8 94 LLAGQATTAYF 972 CD74 95 LLFDLIPVVSV284114 TMEM102 96 LLLNENESLFL 26156 RSL1D1 97 LLNFSPGNL 3929 LBP 98MLQDGIARL 79697 C14orf169 99 QLYDGATALFL 147463 AN KRD29 100 RLIRTIAAI140461 ASB8 101 SLDQSTWNV 23240 KIAA0922 102 SLFAAISGMIL 931 MS4A1 103SLQDHLEKV 1756 DMD 104 VLLGLPLLV 9674 KIAA0040 105 VLTPVILQV100499483, 100499484 C9orf174 106 VLYELLQYI 51513 ETV7 107 VQAVSIPEV55755 CDK5RAP2 108 YLAPENGYLM 6625 SNRNP70 109 YLFQFSAAL 130367 SGPP2110 YQYPFVLGL 130367 SGPP2 111 YLLDTLLSL 57448 BIRC6 112 FLAILPEEV 7762ZNF215 113 FVIDSFEEL 147945 NLRP4 114 GLSDISPST 26005 C2CD3 115LLIDIIHFL 25914 RTTN 116 SLLDNLLTI 25914 RTTN 117 VLATILAQL 26271 FBXO5118 VLDGMIYAI 54813 KLHL28 119 ELCDIILRV 54813 KLHL28 120 VLLGTTWAL221188 GPR114 121 YLTGYNFTL 9521 EEF1E1 122 AISEAQESV 79882 ZC3H14 123ALLSAFVQL 8295 TRRAP 124 FLGVVVPTV 56996 SLC12A9 125 FVAPPTAAV 162 AP1B1126 GLSIFIYRL 10075 HUWE1 127 HLMEENMIVYV 65220 NADK 128 KLFDASPTFFA3992, 3995 FADS1, FADS3 129 SLFEASQQL 23347 SMCHD1 130 VIFSYVLGV 79004CUEDC2 131 VLIEETDQL 6924 TCEB3 132 VLQDQVDEL 51199 NIN 133 ALEELTGFREL4288 MKI67 134 ALGRLGILSV 22828, 26230 SCAF8, TIAM2 135 ALTGLQFQL 22797TFEC 136 FIFGIVHLL 64066 MMP27 137 FIQQERFFL 4012 LNPEP 138 NLINNIFEL4012 LNPEP 139 FLASPLVAI 3593 IL12B 140 FLFEDFVEV 140775 SMCR8 141FLGELTLQL 257218 SHPRH 142 FLYEDSKSVRL 696 BTN1A1 143 TLHAVDVTL 696BTN1A1 144 GLITQVDKL 9183 ZW10 145 GLLHEVVSL 163486 DENND1B 146GLLQQPPAL 1871 E2F3 147 GLSEYQRNFL 56890 MDM1 148 ICAGHVPGV 79019 CENPM149 ILNPVTTKL 81691 LOC81691 150 ILSEKEYKL 127254 C1orf173 151 ILVKQSPML940 CD28 152 KIMYTLVSV 3709 ITPR2 153 KLLKGIYAI 1235 CCR6 154 KLMNIQQQL11214 AKAP13 155 KLMTSLVKV 10734 STAG3 156 KMLEDDLKL 2334 AFF2 157KVLEFLAKV 139422, 4113, 4115 MAGEB10, MAGEB2, MAGEB4 158 KVQDVLHQV 83756TAS1R3 159 LLLSDSGFYL 28557 TRBV30 160 LLPPPSPAA 83881 MIXL1 161NLMLELETV 1063 CENPF 162 RLADLKVSI 2175 FANCA 163 SIFDAVLKGV 157680VPS13B 164 SLFDGAVISTV 23049 SMG1 165 KLLEEIEFL 23049 SMG1 166 SLFSEVASL22832 KIAA1009 167 SLFSITKSV 60468 BACH2 168 SLLSPLLSV 54949 SDHAF2 169SSLEENLLHQV 80205 CHD9 170 STIELSENSL 55635 DEPDC1 171 TLLDVISAL 27340UTP20 172 TLQDSLEFI 51735, 96459 RAPGEF6, FNIP1 173 VILDSVASV 5890RAD51B 174 VLVEITDVDFAA 79801 SHCBP1 175 VMESILLRL 342850 ANKRD62 176YLHIYESQL 29851 ICOS 177 YLYEAEEATTL 22798 LAMB4 178 YVLQGEFFL 84541KBTBD8 179 FVDTNLYFL 81037 CLPTM1L 180 GILQLVESV 6050 RNH1 181 LLFDQNDKV100653071, 10491 CRTAP 182 LLPPPPPVA 23091, 4784 ZC3H13, NFIX 183VLFETVLTI 8906 AP1G2 184 AVLGTSWQL 23041 MON2 185 FIAQLNNVEL 6509 SLC1A4186 FLDVSRDFV 54461 FBXW5 187 FLNSFVFKM 89910 UBE3B 188 GLEDEMYEV285905, 644619, INTS4L1, INTS4L2, INTS4 92105 189 SLSHLVPAL285905, 644619, INTS4L1, INTS4L2, INTS4 92105 190 GLIELVDQL 90410 IFT20191 GLSDISAQV 5989 RFX1 192 GMAAEVPKV 348378 FAM159A 193 SLADSMPSL 8945BTRC 194 SLAPFDREPFTL 3937 LCP2 195 ALIPDLNQI 51361 HOOK1 196 TLALAMIYL100134301, 285074, ANAPC1 64682, 730268 197 YLLTDNVVKL 79810 PTCD2 198GLLSAVSSV 9894 TELO2 199 SLNSTTWKV 1233 CCR4 200 YLLDFEDRL 23207 PLEKHM2201 YLNISQVNV 9262 STK17B 202 ALAAGGYDV 3009 HIST1H1B 203 ILDTIFHKV 2829XCR1 204 RLCDIVVNV 84614 ZBTB37 205 TLFYESPHL 221908 PPP1R35 206SAVSGQWEV 2326 FMO1 207 GLVGLLEQA 57572, 81704, 85440DOCK6, DOCK8, DOCK7 208 FLAVSLPLL 3071 NCKAP1L 209 FLLDTISGL 84864 MINA210 FLAEQFEFL 55610 CCDC132 211 FIDDLFAFV 1209 CLPTM1 212 FLIGQGAHV 4659PPP1R12A 213 YINEDEYEV 7874 USP7 214 FLFDGSMSL 3683 ITGAL 215 QLFEEEIEL63906 GPATCH3 216 KVVSNLPAI 10199 MPHOSPH10 217 AQFGAVLEV 55131 RBM28218 ALDQFLEGI 57169 ZNFX1 219 ALLELENSV 715, 83481 C1R, EPPK1 220FLAEAPTAL 9814 SFI1 221 FLAPDNSLLLA 22898 DENND3 222 FLIETGTLL 79705LRRK1 223 FLQDIPDGLFL 206426, 266971, PIP5K1P1, PIPSL, PIP5K1A 8394 224FLSPLLPLL 10961 ERP29 225 GTYQDVGSLNIGDV 973 CD79A 226 GVIDPVPEV 8879SGPL1 227 IIAEGIPEA 47 ACLY 228 IIAEYLSYV 51667 NUB1 229 ILSPWGAEV 142PARP1 230 IMDDDSYGV 9874 TLK1 231 IVMGAIPSV 1902 LPAR1 232 KVMEGTVAA1445 CSK 233 MLEVHIPSV 79856 SNX22 234 NLQRTVVTV 4297 MLL 235 SLDVYELFL79586 CHPF 236 SLFDGFFLTA 25920 COBRA1 237 YLDRLIPQA 115209 OMA1 238YQYGAVVTL 1380 CR2 239 VLIDDTVLL 116138 KLHDC3 240 ALVPTPALFYL 51528JKAMP 241 FIPDFIPAV 56912 IFT46 242 GILDFZVFL 100124692, 8972, MGAM93432 243 GLPDLDIYL 23334 SZT2 244 ILEPFLPAV 6894 TARBP1 245 KLIQLPVVYV9875 URB1 246 KLPVPLESV 285190, 400966, 5903, RGPD4, RGPD1, RANBP2,653489, 727851, RGPD3, RGPD8, RGPD6, 729540, 729857, 84220 RGPD2, RGPD5247 KVLEMETTV 9810 RNF40 248 NLLEQFILL 64708 COPS7B 249 VLLESLVEI 149371EXOC8 250 VLTNVGAAL 129285 PPP1R21 251 VLYELFTYI 3717 JAK2 252 YLGDLIMAL3930, 7108 LBR, TM7SF2

TABLE 2 Additional peptides according to the present invention with noprior known cancer association. SEQ ID No. Sequence GeneID(s)Official Gene Symbol(s) 253 YSDDDVPSV 29028 ATAD2 254 FLYSETWNI4519, 8923205 MT-CYB 255 GMWNPNAPVFL 9910 RABGAP1L 256 ALQETPPQV 146206RLTPR 257 FLQEWEVYA 57001 ACN9 258 RIYPFLLMV 10299 MARCH6 259 TVLDGLEFKV10592 SMC2 260 RLDEAFDFV 1844 DUSP2 261 FLPETRIMTSV 11319 ECD 262LMGPVVHEV 5116 PCNT 263 GLMDNEIKV 8795 TNFRSF10B 264 ILTGTPPGV151313, 51011 FAHD2B, FAHD2A 265 ILWHFVASL 23077 MYCBP2 266 QLTEMLPSI689 BTF3 267 SLLETGSDLLL 57176 VARS2 268 VLFPLPTPL 11184 MAP4K1 269VLQNVAFSV 597 BCL2A1 270 VVVDSDSLAFV 122961 ISCA2 271 YLLDQPVLEQRL 81887LAS1L 272 KLDHTLSQI 4863 NPAT 273 AILLPQPPK 1761, 6392, 64147,DMRT1, SDHD, KIF9, 642204, 654434, LINC00338, TMEM175, 84286, 85363TRIMS 274 KLLNLISKL 5366 PMAIP1 275 KLMDLEDCAL 23269 MGA 276 NMISYVVHL204801 NLRP11 277 FLIDLNSTHGTFL 5511 PPP1R8 278 FLLFINHRL 4292 MLH1 279NLAGENILNPL 56948 SDR39U1 280 SLLNHLPYL 201562 PTPLB 281 TLQTVPLTTV 1997ELF1 282 YLLEQGAQV 55527 FEM1A 283 ALMPVTPQA 23683 PRKD3 284 KLQEQIHRV196441 ZFC3H1 285 SITAVTPLL 63910 SLC17A9 286 HLTEDTPKV 50814 NSDHL 287ILMGHSLYM 9786 KIAA0586 288 RLAPEIVSA 157285 SGK223 289 SLLAANNLL 9380GRHPR 290 IASPVIAAV 127544 RNF19B 291 KIIDTAGLSEA 22954 TRIM32 292KLINSQISL 5293 PIK3CD 293 GLAMVEAISYV 109 ADCY3 294 KLYGPEGLELV 3394IRF8 295 SLAAVSQQL 7094 TLN1 296 FILEPLYKI 9343 EFTUD2 297 ILQNGLETL89857 KLHL6 298 ALTDVILCV 89857 KLHL6 299 RLLEEEGVSL 64428 NARFL 300IVLERNPEL 5257 PHKB 301 LQFDGIHVV 55294 FBXW7 302 SLAELDEKISA 51562 MBIP303 FVWEASHYL 5442 POLRMT 304 ALIRLDDLFL 56902 PNO1 305 AMLAQQMQL 4154MBNL1 306 AQVALVNEV 10075 HUWE1 307 FLLPVAVKL 3954 LETM1 308 SLLDQIPEM9632 SEC24C 309 SLSFVSPSL 11108 PRDM4 310 VMAEAPPGV 9798 IST1 311YLHRQVAAV 6890 TAP1

TABLE 3 Peptides useful for e.g. personalized cancer therapies. SEQ Official ID Gene No. Sequence GeneID(s) Symbol(s) 312 RLPDIPLRQV 55656INT58 313 ALSVRISNV 3766 KCNJ10 314 LIDDKGTIKL 983 CDK1 315 SLYDSIAFI56978 PRDM8 316 SLSAFLPSL 54757 FAM20A 317 GLSNLGIKSI 122553 TRAPPC6B318 KIQEMQHFL 4321 MMP12 319 SLYKGLLSV 25788 RAD54B 320 LLWGNLPEI729533, 653820 FAM72A, FAM72B 321 KLLAVIHEL 25788 RAD54B 322 TLTNIIHNL94101 ORMDL1 323 ILVDWLVQV 9133 CCNB2 324 LLYDAVHIV 2899 GRIK3 325FLFVDPELV 146850 PIK3R6 326 KLTDVGIATL 115701 ALPK2 327 MLFGHPLLVSV 8237USP11 328 ILFPDIIARA 64110 MAGEF1

The present invention furthermore generally relates to the peptidesaccording to the present invention for use in the treatment ofproliferative diseases, such as, for example, non-small cell lungcancer, small cell lung cancer, renal cell cancer, brain cancer, gastriccancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular cancer, pancreatic cancer,leukemia, breast cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, urinary bladdercancer, uterine cancer, gallbladder and bile duct cancer.

Particularly preferred are the peptides—alone or incombination—according to the present invention selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311. More preferred are thepeptides—alone or in combination—selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 217 (see Table 1), and their uses in theimmunotherapy of NHL, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lungcancer, renal cell cancer, brain cancer, gastric cancer, colorectalcancer, hepatocellular cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, breastcancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, urinary bladder cancer, uterinecancer, gallbladder and bile duct cancer, and preferably NHL.

As shown in the following Tables 4A and B, many of the peptidesaccording to the present invention are also found on other tumor typesand can, thus, also be used in the immunotherapy of other indications.Also, refer to FIGS. 1A-1P and Example 1.

The tables show for selected peptides on which additional tumor typesthey were found and either over-presented on more than 5% of themeasured tumor samples, or presented on more than 5% of the measuredtumor samples with a ratio of geometric means tumor vs normal tissuesbeing larger than 3. Over-presentation is defined as higher presentationon the tumor sample as compared to the normal sample with highestpresentation. Normal tissues against which over-presentation was testedwere: adipose tissue, adrenal gland, artery, bone marrow, brain, centralnerve, colon, duodenum, esophagus, eye, gallbladder, heart, kidney,liver, lung, lymph node, mononuclear white blood cells, pancreas,peripheral nerve, parathyroid gland, peritoneum, pituitary, pleura,rectum, salivary gland, skeletal muscle, skin, small intestine, spleen,stomach, thymus, thyroid gland, trachea, ureter, urinary bladder, andvein.

TABLE 4APeptides according to the present invention and their specific uses inother proliferative diseases, especially in other cancerous diseases.SEQ ID No. Sequence Other relevant organs/diseases 1 LLSGQLPTICLL, Uterine Cancer 2 LLSEETPSA NSCLC, SCLC, CLL, AML, BRCA,Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 3 LTIDTQYYLCLL, Uterine Cancer 5 VLQGLTFTL SCLC, CLL, BRCA, Melanoma, OC,Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer,Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 6 TLITLPLLFL CLL, Melanoma 7NLLGMIFSM CLL, AML, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer 8 ALYAVIEKACLL, AML 9 FLLDLDPLL CLL 10 FLLVGTQIDL CLL, BRCA, Uterine Cancer 11GLDTVVALL CRC, CLL, AML, BRCA, Uterine Cancer 12 GLLLLVPLLMelanoma, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 13 HLVPASWKLCLL, Melanoma 15 IIIEDLLEA BRCA, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 16 TLIAAILYLCLL, AML, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 17 VIIPLLSSVCLL, AML, BRCA, Melanoma 19 VLEAILPLV CLL 20 YLIAGGDRWLNSCLC, RCC, CLL, BRCA, Melanoma 21 ALFKEAYSL Esophageal Cancer 23ALVEDIINL CRC, BRCA, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 24 AVLGFSFRL CLL 25FLDTSNQHLL CLL 26 FLGSFIDHV Melanoma, OC, Uterine Cancer 27 FLNQESFDLCLL, BRCA, Esophageal Cancer, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 28FLSNANPSL CLL, BRCA, Uterine Cancer 29 ILSDVTQGLCLL, BRCA, Uterine Cancer 30 ILSTLDVEL CRC, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 31KLYDEESLL CLL, AML, Melanoma, Esophageal Cancer, Uterine Cancer 32VLNEDELPSV CLL 33 LLANIVPIAMLV CLL 34 LLWEDGVTEACRC, CLL, Melanoma, Esophageal Cancer, Urinary bladder cancer, UterineCancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 35 SLSSERYYL OC 36VILDIPLLFET CLL, BRCA, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 37 VLGNALEGVHCC, CLL, AML, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 38 YLTAEILELAGNNSCLC, SCLC, CRC, HCC, BRCA, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer,Uterine Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 39 QLLPQGIVPALCLL, BRCA, OC, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 40 FLNSVIVDLCLL, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer 41 ILASIFETVNSCLC, SCLC, RCC, CLL, AML, BRCA, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer,Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 42 YLQDLVERA CLL, Uterine Cancer 43ALLEGVKNV CLL, Melanoma, OC 44 FIIEEQSFLCLL, Esophageal Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 45FILDDSALYL CLL, Uterine Cancer 46 FLVEEIFQTSCLC, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 47 GLLPKLTALRCC, Brain Cancer, CRC, HCC, AML, Melanoma, Esophageal Cancer, OC,Uterine Cancer 48 KILDEDLYI CLL, BRCA, Melanoma, EsophagealCancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 50 LLLDGLIYL CLL 53FLREYFERL CLL, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 55 ILVEVDLVQACLL, Uterine Cancer 56 GLQDLLFSL CLL, AML 57 LQIGDFVSV SCLC, CLL 58QLAPFLPQL OC, Urinary bladder cancer 59 RLHREVAQV Esophageal Cancer 60SLLIDVITV CLL, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 61SLLNKDLSL Uterine Cancer 62 ALAPYLDLLAML, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer 63 ALIEEAYGL CLL 64 FLVEVSNDVCLL, Uterine Cancer 65 NLTDVSPDL CLL, Uterine Cancer 67 LLATVNVALCLL, Uterine Cancer 68 QIAAFLFTV CLL, Urinary bladder cancer, UterineCancer 69 TLLAFPLLL HCC, CLL, AML, Melanoma, GallbladderCancer, Bile Duct Cancer 70 VLIEILQKAAML, BRCA, OC, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 73 YLGEEYPEVSCLC, CRC, CLL, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 74 SLDLRPLEV RCC, GC 76ALADLVPVDVVV SCLC, CLL, BRCA, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 77 ALLDVSNNYGIHCC, CLL, Esophageal Cancer, OC, Urinary bladder cancer 78 AMEEAVAQVRCC, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 79 AMKEEKEQL AML 80 YLFDEIDQACLL, AML, Uterine Cancer 81 FIFSYITAV CLL 82 FLIDGSSSV CLL 83FLMDDNMSNTL Melanoma 84 FLQELQLEHA CLL 85 GLAPAEVVVATVA CLL, Melanoma 86GLATIRAYL RCC, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 87 GLFARIIMIGallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 88 GLFDNRSGLPEAUrinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 90 HLDEVFLEL SCLC 92 KLLFEIASACLL, AML 93 KLLGSLQLL RCC, BRCA 94 LLAGQATTAYF RCC 95 LLFDLIPVVSVAML, BRCA, Uterine Cancer 96 LLLNENESLFL HCC, CLL, BRCA, Melanoma, OC,Uterine Cancer 97 LLNFSPGNL CRC 98 MLQDGIARL CLL, Melanoma 100 RLIRTIAAIRCC 101 SLDQSTWNV CLL 102 SLFAAISGMIL CLL 103 SLQDHLEKV HCC, CLL 104VLLGLPLLV CLL, AML 105 VLTPVILQV CLL, AML 106 VLYELLQYIGallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 108 YLAPENGYLMSCLC, CRC, HCC, BRCA, Melanoma, OC, Urinary bladder cancer, GallbladderCancer, Bile Duct Cancer 109 YLFQFSAAL RCC, PC 110 YQYPFVLGLUterine Cancer 114 GLSDISPST CLL, Uterine Cancer 116 SLLDNLLTIHCC, CLL, AML, Melanoma 117 VLATILAQL SCLC, AML, Uterine Cancer 118VLDGMIYAI Uterine Cancer 119 ELCDIILRV Melanoma 120 VLLGTTWAL AML 121YLTGYNFTL Uterine Cancer 122 AISEAQESV RCC, CLL, BRCA, Uterine Cancer124 FLGVVVPTV CLL, Melanoma, OC, Uterine Cancer 125 FVAPPTAAVMelanoma, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 126 GLSIFIYRLMelanoma, Urinary bladder cancer 127 HLMEENMIVYV Melanoma 128KLFDASPTFFA CLL, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 129 SLFEASQQLCLL, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 130VIFSYVLGV AML, Uterine Cancer 131 VLIEETDQL CLL, Melanoma 132 VLQDQVDELCLL, AML, Melanoma 133 ALEELTGFREL Esophageal Cancer 138 NLINNIFELCLL, AML, Urinary bladder cancer 141 FLGELTLQL Melanoma 144 GLITQVDKLAML 146 GLLQQPPAL AML 148 ICAGHVPGV AML, Uterine Cancer 149 ILNPVTTKLAML 152 KIMYTLVSV HCC 161 NLMLELETV Uterine Cancer 163 SIFDAVLKGVRCC, CRC, BRCA, Uterine Cancer 164 SLFDGAVISTV SCLC, Uterine Cancer 165KLLEEIEFL RCC, AML, BRCA, Melanoma,Esophageal Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 166 SLFSEVASLMelanoma 169 SSLEENLLHQV HCC, CLL 171 TLLDVISAL AML 174 VLVEITDVDFAAMelanoma 179 FVDTNLYFL RCC, CLL, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 180 GILQLVESVHCC, CLL, AML, Melanoma, OC 181 LLFDQNDKVRCC, HCC, BRCA, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 182LLPPPPPVA SCLC, CLL, Melanoma 183 VLFETVLTICLL, AML, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 184 AVLGTSWQLCRC, CLL, AML 185 FIAQLNNVEL Melanoma, OC 186 FLDVSRDFV SCLC, CLL 188GLEDEMYEV CLL, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer,Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 189 SLSHLVPAL CLL 190 GLIELVDQLHCC, CLL, AML, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 191 GLSDISAQVCLL, Melanoma, Esophageal Cancer, OC 193 SLADSMPSL BRCA, Uterine Cancer194 SLAPFDREPFTL NSCLC 195 ALIPDLNQI Uterine Cancer 197 YLLTDNVVKLRCC, BRCA 198 GLLSAVSSV AML, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 200YLLDFEDRL CLL 201 YLNISQVNV CLL 203 ILDTIFHKV Melanoma 204 RLCDIVVNVMelanoma 206 SAVSGQWEV CLL 207 GLVGLLEQA SCLC, HCC, CLL, AML, BRCA,Melanoma, OC, Uterine Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 208FLAVSLPLL CLL 209 FLLDTISGL CRC, HCC, CLL, AML, BRCA,Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 210 FLAEQFEFL CLL 211FIDDLFAFV HCC, CLL, AML, Melanoma 212 FLIGQGAHV CLL, AML, Melanoma 213YINEDEYEV CLL, OC 214 FLFDGSMSL AML 215 QLFEEEIELRCC, Esophageal Cancer, OC, UterineCancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 216 KVVSNLPAIAML, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 217 AQFGAVLEV AML, Melanoma218 ALDQFLEGI CLL, BRCA, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 219ALLELENSV HCC, Uterine Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 221FLAPDNSLLLA Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 222 FLIETGTLLCLL, BRCA, Uterine Cancer 223 FLQDIPDGLFL CLL 224 FLSPLLPLL HCC, CLL 225GTYQDVGSLNIGDV CLL 226 GVIDPVPEV HCC, CLL, AML, Melanoma, OC,Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 227 IIAEGIPEASCLC, CLL, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 228 IIAEYLSYV CLL 229 ILSPWGAEVCLL, AML, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer 230 IMDDDSYGV CLL 232KVMEGTVAA CLL 233 MLEVHIPSV CLL 234 NLQRTVVTV RCC, CLL, Uterine Cancer235 SLDVYELFL CRC, BRCA, Melanoma, EsophagealCancer, OC, Urinary bladder cancer,Uterine Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 236 SLFDGFFLTACLL, AML, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 237 YLDRLIPQA HCC, AML, Melanoma 238YQYGAVVTL CLL 239 VLIDDTVLL HCC, AML, Melanoma 240 ALVPTPALFYL BRCA 241FIPDFIPAV SCLC 242 GILDFZVFL AML 243 GLPDLDIYLHCC, CLL, AML, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 244 ILEPFLPAVMelanoma, Uterine Cancer 245 KLIQLPVVYVCLL, BRCA, OC, Urinary bladder cancer 246 KLPVPLESV CLL, Melanoma 247KVLEMETTV Uterine Cancer 248 NLLEQFILL NSCLC, SCLC, RCC, Brain Cancer,CRC, HCC, CLL, AML, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 249VLLESLVEI Melanoma, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 250 VLTNVGAALCLL, Uterine Cancer 251 VLYELFTYI CLL 252 YLGDLIMAL CLL 253 YSDDDVPSVNSCLC, SCLC, CLL, Melanoma, Esophageal Cancer, OC, Urinary bladdercancer, Uterine Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 254FLYSETWNI HCC, CLL, AML, Melanoma 255 GMWNPNAPVFLHCC, CLL, Uterine Cancer 257 FLQEWEVYACLL, AML, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer 258 RIYPFLLMVNSCLC, SCLC, RCC, HCC, CLL, AML, Melanoma, Urinary bladder cancer,Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 259 TVLDGLEFKVSCLC, CLL, AML, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer 260 RLDEAFDFVMelanoma, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 261 FLPETRIMTSVSCLC, CLL, Melanoma, OC, Urinary bladder cancer 263 GLMDNEIKVNSCLC, RCC, HCC, PC, Melanoma, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 264ILTGTPPGV BRCA 265 ILWHFVASL CLL, Uterine Cancer 266 QLTEMLPSISCLC, HCC, Melanoma, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 267SLLETGSDLLL HCC, Esophageal Cancer 268 VLFPLPTPL CLL 270 VVVDSDSLAFVSCLC, CLL, Melanoma, Uterine Cancer,Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 271 YLLDQPVLEQRL CLL, Melanoma 273AILLPQPPK RCC, CLL, Melanoma, OC 274 KLLNLISKL AML 277 FLIDLNSTHGTFL CLL278 FLLFINHRL CLL 279 NLAGENILNPL CLL, Urinary bladder cancer, UterineCancer 280 SLLNHLPYL CLL 281 TLQTVPLTTV CLL 282 YLLEQGAQVSCLC, HCC, CLL, Melanoma 283 ALMPVTPQA CLL 284 KLQEQIHRV AML 285SITAVTPLL RCC, AML 287 ILMGHSLYM Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer288 RLAPEIVSA HCC 289 SLLAANNLL HCC, Uterine Cancer, GallbladderCancer, Bile Duct Cancer 290 IASPVIAAVHCC, PC, CLL, AML, BRCA, Melanoma, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer291 KIIDTAGLSEA CLL 292 KLINSQISL CLL 293 GLAMVEAISYVCLL, Urinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 294 KLYGPEGLELV CLL 296FILEPLYKI CLL, Esophageal Cancer, OC, Uterine Cancer 299 RLLEEEGVSLCRC, AML, BRCA 301 LQFDGIHVV SCLC, Brain Cancer 302 SLAELDEKISANSCLC, CLL, Melanoma, Esophageal Cancer, Urinary bladder cancerNSCLC, CLL, Esophageal Cancer, 303 FVWEASHYLUterine Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 304 ALIRLDDLFLRCC, CLL, Melanoma 305 AMLAQQMQL CLL, BRCA 306 AQVALVNEVUrinary bladder cancer, Uterine Cancer 308 SLLDQIPEMRCC, CLL, AML, BRCA, Melanoma, OC,Uterine Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer 309 SLSFVSPSLCLL, BRCA, Esophageal Cancer, Uterine Cancer 310 VMAEAPPGVUterine Cancer 311 YLHRQVAAV SCLC, Melanoma, OC, Urinary bladder cancerNSCLC = non-small cell lung cancer, SCLC = small cell lung cancer, RCC =kidney cancer, CRC = colon or rectum cancer, GC = stomach cancer, HCC =liver cancer, PC = pancreatic cancer, BRCA = breast cancer, OC = ovariancancer, AML = acute myelogenous leukemia, CLL = chronic lymphocyticleukemia.

TABLE 4BPeptides according to the present invention and their specific uses inother proliferative diseases, especially in other cancerous diseases(amendment of Table 4A). The table shows, like Table 4A, for selectedpeptides on which additional tumor types they were found showing over-presentation (including specific presentation) on more than 5% of themeasured tumor samples, or presentation on more than 5% of the measured tumor samples with a ratio of geometric means tumor vs normal tissues beinglarger than 3. Over-presentation is defined as higher presentation on thetumor sample as compared to the normal sample with highest presentation.Normal tissues against which over-presentation was tested were: adiposetissue, adrenal gland, artery, bone marrow, brain, central nerve, colon,duodenum, esophagus, eye, gallbladder, heart, kidney, liver, lung, lymph node, mononuclear white blood cells, pancreas, parathyroid gland,peripheral nerve, peritoneum, pituitary, pleura, rectum, salivary gland,skeletal muscle, skin, small intestine, spleen, stomach, thyroid gland,trachea, ureter, urinary bladder, vein. SEQ ID NO. SequenceOther relevant organs/diseases 2 LLSEETPSA HNSCC 3 LTIDTQYYL HNSCC 5VLQGLTFTL HNSCC 11 GLDTVVALL HNSCC 12 GLLLLVPLLOC, Esophageal Cancer, HNSCC 16 TLIAAILYL SCLC, HNSCC 23 ALVEDIINLUrinary Bladder Cancer, AML, HNSCC 24 AVLGFSFRL AML 26 FLGSFIDHVSCLC, AML 28 FLSNANPSL SCLC, HNSCC 30 ILSTLDVELSCLC, Urinary Bladder Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer, AML, HNSCC 33 LLANIVPIAMLV Melanoma 36VILDIPLLFET SCLC, AML, HNSCC 37 VLGNALEGV SCLC 38 YLTAEILELAGN HNSCC 39QLLPQGIVPAL HCC 41 ILASIFETV HNSCC 43 ALLEGVKNV SCLC, BRCA 44 FIIEEQSFLAML, HNSCC 46 FLVEEIFQT AML 47 GLLPKLTAL HNSCC 48 KILDEDLYI AML, HNSCC54 DIFDAMFSV CLL 55 ILVEVDLVQA Esophageal Cancer 56 GLQDLLFSL Melanoma60 SLLIDVITV NSCLC, SCLC, GC, CRC, PC, BRCA, AML 61 SLLNKDLSLEsophageal Cancer, AML, HNSCC 66 KLAPIPVEL CLL, AML 67 LLATVNVAL HNSCC68 QIAAFLFTV AML 69 TLLAFPLLL HNSCC 70 VLIEILQKA SCLC, HNSCC 71VLLDYVGNVQL HNSCC 73 YLGEEYPEV HNSCC 76 ALADLVPVDVV HNSCC V 88GLFDNRSGLPE AML, HNSCC A 95 LLFDLIPVVSV HNSCC 96 LLLNENESLFL HNSCC 99QLYDGATALFL HNSCC 103 SLQDHLEKV Uterine Cancer 106 VLYELLQYI HNSCC 107VQAVSIPEV CLL, AML 108 YLAPENGYLM Uterine Cancer, AML, HNSCC 109YLFQFSAAL HNSCC 110 YQYPFVLGL HNSCC 111 YLLDTLLSL AML, HNSCC 115LLIDIIHFL AML 121 YLTGYNFTL AML 122 AISEAQESV HNSCC 124 FLGVVVPTVAML, HNSCC 128 KLFDASPTFFA OC, HNSCC 131 VLIEETDQL BRCA 144 GLITQVDKLEsophageal Cancer 146 GLLQQPPAL HNSCC 152 KIMYTLVSV AML 163 SIFDAVLKGVHCC, Urinary Bladder Cancer, HNSCC 166 SLFSEVASL AML 168 SLLSPLLSV HNSCC171 TLLDVISAL HNSCC 179 FVDTNLYFL AML 182 LLPPPPPVA HNSCC 183 VLFETVLTIHNSCC 185 FIAQLNNVEL AML 188 GLEDEMYEV HNSCC 191 GLSDISAQV AML 194SLAPFDREPFT Melanoma, Gallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer, L HNSCC 198GLLSAVSSV HNSCC 201 YLNISQVNV AML 205 TLFYESPHL CLL 212 FLIGQGAHV HCC213 YINEDEYEV HNSCC 214 FLFDGSMSL Urinary Bladder Cancer 216 KVVSNLPAIRCC 217 AQFGAVLEV RCC 218 ALDQFLEGI HNSCC 220 FLAEAPTAL AML 221FLAPDNSLLLA AML 224 FLSPLLPLL AML 226 GVIDPVPEV HNSCC 227 IIAEGIPEARCC, HNSCC 228 IIAEYLSYV AML, HNSCC 235 SLDVYELFL HNSCC 236 SLFDGFFLTARCC, GC 239 VLIDDTVLL Uterine Cancer 240 ALVPTPALFYL HNSCC 244 ILEPFLPAVCLL, AML 246 KLPVPLESV AML 247 KVLEMETTV BRCA 248 NLLEQFILL HNSCC 251VLYELFTYI AML, HNSCC 252 YLGDLIMAL AML 253 YSDDDVPSV AML, HNSCC 254FLYSETWNI HNSCC 255 GMWNPNAPVF HNSCC L 256 ALQETPPQV AML 258 RIYPFLLMVCRC 259 TVLDGLEFKV HNSCC 260 RLDEAFDFV RCC, CLL 263 GLMDNEIKV HNSCC 265ILWHFVASL AML 267 SLLETGSDLLL Urinary Bladder Cancer, AML 268 VLFPLPTPLAML 280 SLLNHLPYL HNSCC 281 TLQTVPLTTV AML 282 YLLEQGAQV AML, HNSCC 289SLLAANNLL AML 290 IASPVIAAV NSCLC, SCLC, CRC, Uterine Cancer 291KIIDTAGLSEA HNSCC 292 KLINSQISL AML 296 FILEPLYKI AML 297 ILQNGLETLGallbladder Cancer, Bile Duct Cancer, AML 299 RLLEEEGVSL Melanoma 300IVLERNPEL AML 301 LQFDGIHVV HNSCC 302 SLAELDEKISA Uterine Cancer, HNSCC303 FVWEASHYL AML, HNSCC 306 AQVALVNEV Esophageal Cancer, AML 307FLLPVAVKL HNSCC 308 SLLDQIPEM HNSCC 309 SLSFVSPSL AML, HNSCC 314LIDDKGTIKL Urinary Bladder Cancer NSCLC = non-small cell lung cancer,SCLC = small cell lung cancer, RCC = kidney cancer, CRC = colon orrectum cancer, GC = stomach cancer, HCC = liver cancer, PC = pancreaticcancer, BRCA = breast cancer, CLL = chronic lymphocytic leukemia, AML =acute myeloid leukemia, OC = ovarian cancer, HNSCC = head and necksquamous cell carcinoma, head and neck cancer.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20,24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45,48, 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 73, 76,77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 92, 96, 98, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 107, 114,116, 122, 124, 128, 129, 131, 132, 138, 169, 179, 180, 182, 183, 184,186, 188, 189, 190, 191, 195, 200, 201, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210,211, 212, 213, 218, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 232,233, 234, 236, 238, 243, 244, 245, 246, 248, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254,255, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 265, 268, 270, 271, 273, 277, 278, 279,280, 281, 282, 283, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 296, 302, 303, 304, 305,308, and 309 for the—in one preferred embodiment combined—treatment ofCLL.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 15, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31,34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42, 45, 47, 53, 55, 60, 61, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 73,76, 80, 86, 87, 88, 95, 96, 103, 108, 110, 114, 117, 118, 121, 122, 124,125, 129, 130, 148, 161, 163, 164, 179, 181, 183, 188, 190, 193, 195,207, 209, 215, 218, 219, 222, 227, 234, 235, 236, 239, 243, 244, 247,248, 250, 253, 255, 259, 260, 265, 270, 279, 289, 290, 293, 296, 302,303, 306, 308, 309, and 310 for the—in one preferred embodimentcombined—treatment of uterine cancer.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 2, 20, 38, 41, 194, 248, 253, 258, 263, 302, and 303for the—in one preferred embodiment combined—treatment of NSCLC.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 2, 7, 8, 11, 16, 17, 31, 37, 41, 47, 56, 62, 69, 70,79, 80, 92, 95, 104, 105, 116, 117, 120, 130, 132, 138, 144, 146, 148,149, 165, 171, 180, 183, 184, 190, 198, 207, 209, 211, 212, 214, 216,217, 226, 229, 236, 237, 239, 242, 243, 248, 254, 257, 258, 259, 274,284, 285, 290, 299, 23, 24, 26, 30, 36, 44, 46, 48, 60, 61, 66, 68, 88,107, 108, 111, 115, 121, 124, 152, 166, 179, 185, 191, 201, 220, 221,224, 228, 244, 246, 251, 252, 253, 256, 265, 267, 268, 281, 282, 289,292, 296, 297, 300, 303, 306, 309 and 308 for the—in one preferredembodiment combined—treatment of AML.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 2, 5, 10, 11, 15, 17, 20, 23, 27, 28, 29, 36, 38, 39,41, 43, 48, 60, 70, 76, 93, 95, 96, 108, 122, 131, 163, 165, 181, 193,197, 207, 209, 218, 222, 235, 240, 245, 247, 264, 290, 299, 305, 308,and 309 for the—in one preferred embodiment combined—treatment of BRCA.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 2, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 15, 17, 20, 23, 26, 30, 31, 33,34, 36, 38, 40, 41, 43, 47, 48, 53, 56, 60, 62, 69, 73, 76, 83, 85, 86,96, 98, 108, 116, 119, 124, 125, 126, 127, 129, 131, 132, 141, 165, 166,174, 179, 180, 181, 182, 185, 188, 190, 191, 194, 203, 204, 207, 209,211, 212, 217, 226, 227, 229, 235, 236, 237, 239, 243, 244, 246, 248,249, 253, 254, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 263, 266, 270, 271, 273, 282,290, 299, 302, 304, 308, and 311 for the—in one preferred embodimentcombined—treatment of melanoma.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 2, 5, 7, 27, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 58, 60, 62,68, 70, 77, 88, 108, 125, 126, 138, 181, 183, 209, 218, 229, 235, 245,248, 253, 257, 258, 260, 261, 279, 293, 302, 306, 23, 30, 163, 214, 267,314 and 311 for the—in one preferred embodiment combined—treatment ofurinary bladder cancer.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 5, 12, 16, 30, 34, 38, 41, 44, 46, 48, 69, 78, 87,106, 108, 128, 129, 165, 188, 194, 198, 207, 215, 216, 219, 221, 226,235, 249, 253, 258, 263, 266, 270, 287, 289, 290, 297, 303, and 308 forthe—in one preferred embodiment combined—treatment of gallbladder cancerand/or bile duct cancer.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 5, 12, 26, 35, 39, 43, 47, 58, 70, 77, 96, 108, 124,128, 180, 185, 191, 207, 213, 215, 226, 235, 245, 253, 261, 273, 296,308, and 311 for the—in one preferred embodiment combined—treatment ofOC.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 11, 23, 30, 34, 38, 47, 60, 73, 97, 108, 163, 184,209, 235, 248, 258, 290, and 299 for the—in one preferred embodimentcombined—treatment of CRC.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 12, 21, 27, 31, 34, 44, 47, 48, 55, 59, 61, 77, 133,144, 165, 191, 215, 235, 253, 267, 296, 302, 303, 306, and 309 forthe—in one preferred embodiment combined—treatment of esophageal cancer.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 20, 41, 47, 74, 78, 86, 93, 94, 100, 109, 122, 163,165, 179, 181, 197, 215, 234, 248, 258, 263, 273, 285, 304, 216, 217,227, 236, 260, and 308 for the—in one preferred embodimentcombined—treatment of RCC.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 37, 38, 39, 47, 69, 77, 96, 103, 108, 116, 152, 163,169, 180, 181, 190, 207, 209, 211, 212, 219, 224, 226, 237, 239, 243,248, 254, 255, 258, 263, 266, 267, 282, 288, 289, and 290 for the—in onepreferred embodiment combined—treatment of HCC.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 60, 109, 263, and 290 for the—in one preferredembodiment combined—treatment of PC.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 47, 248, and 301 for the—in one preferred embodimentcombined—treatment of brain cancer.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 2, 3, 5, 11, 12, 16, 23, 28, 30, 36, 38, 41, 44, 47,48, 61, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 76, 88, 95, 96, 99, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111,122, 124, 128, 146, 163, 168, 171, 182, 183, 188, 194, 198, 213, 218,226, 227, 228, 235, 240, 248, 251, 253, 254, 255, 259, 263, 280, 282,291, 301, 302, 303, 307, 308, and 309 for the—in one preferredembodiment combined—treatment of HNSCC.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 2, 5, 16, 26, 28, 30, 36, 37, 38, 41, 43, 46, 60, 70,73, 76, 90, 108, 117, 164, 182, 186, 207, 227, 241, 248, 253, 258, 259,261, 266, 270, 282, 301, 311, and 290 for the—in one preferredembodiment combined—treatment of SCLC.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of atleast one peptide according to the present invention according to anyone of SEQ ID No. 60, 74 and 236 for the—in one preferred embodimentcombined—treatment of GC.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of thepeptides according to the present invention for the—preferablycombined—treatment of a proliferative disease selected from the group ofNHL, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, renal cellcancer, brain cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellularcancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, breast cancer, melanoma, ovariancancer, urinary bladder cancer, uterine cancer, gallbladder and bileduct cancer.

The present invention furthermore relates to peptides according to thepresent invention that have the ability to bind to a molecule of thehuman major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I or—in an elongatedform, such as a length-variant—MHC class-II.

The present invention further relates to the peptides according to thepresent invention wherein said peptides (each) consist or consistessentially of an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQID NO: 311.

The present invention further relates to the peptides according to thepresent invention, wherein said peptide is modified and/or includesnon-peptide bonds.

The present invention further relates to the peptides according to thepresent invention, wherein said peptide is part of a fusion protein, inparticular fused to the N-terminal amino acids of the HLA-DRantigen-associated invariant chain (Ii), or fused to (or into thesequence of) an antibody, such as, for example, an antibody that isspecific for dendritic cells.

The present invention further relates to a nucleic acid, encoding thepeptides according to the present invention. The present inventionfurther relates to the nucleic acid according to the present inventionthat is DNA, cDNA, PNA, RNA or combinations thereof.

The present invention further relates to an expression vector capable ofexpressing and/or expressing a nucleic acid according to the presentinvention.

The present invention further relates to a peptide according to thepresent invention, a nucleic acid according to the present invention oran expression vector according to the present invention for use in thetreatment of diseases and in medicine, in particular in the treatment ofcancer.

The present invention further relates to antibodies that are specificagainst the peptides according to the present invention or complexes ofsaid peptides according to the present invention with MHC, and methodsof making these.

The present invention further relates to T-cell receptors (TCRs), inparticular soluble TCR (sTCRs) and in particular cloned TCRs engineeredinto autologous or allogeneic T cells, and methods of making these, aswell as NK cells or other cells expressing and/or bearing said TCR orcross-reacting with said TCRs.

The antibodies and TCRs are additional embodiments of theimmunotherapeutic use of the peptides according to the invention athand.

The present invention further relates to a host cell comprising anucleic acid according to the present invention or an expression vectoras described before. The present invention further relates to the hostcell according to the present invention that is an antigen presentingcell, and preferably is a dendritic cell.

The present invention further relates to a method for producing apeptide according to the present invention, said method comprisingculturing the host cell according to the present invention, andisolating the peptide from said host cell or its culture medium.

The present invention further relates to said method according to thepresent invention, wherein the antigen is loaded onto class I or II MHCmolecules expressed on the surface of a suitable antigen-presenting cellor artificial antigen-presenting cell by contacting a sufficient amountof the antigen with an antigen-presenting cell.

The present invention further relates to the method according to thepresent invention, wherein the antigen-presenting cell comprises anexpression vector capable of expressing or expressing said peptidecontaining SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No.: 311, preferably containing SEQ IDNo. 1 to SEQ ID No. 217, or a variant amino acid sequence.

The present invention further relates to activated T cells, produced bythe method according to the present invention, wherein said T cellselectively recognizes a cell which expresses a polypeptide comprisingan amino acid sequence according to the present invention.

The present invention further relates to a method of killing targetcells in a patient which target cells aberrantly express a polypeptidecomprising any amino acid sequence according to the present invention,the method comprising administering to the patient an effective numberof T cells as produced according to the present invention.

The present invention further relates to the use of any peptide asdescribed, the nucleic acid according to the present invention, theexpression vector according to the present invention, the cell accordingto the present invention, the activated T lymphocyte, the T cellreceptor or the antibody or other peptide- and/or peptide-MHC-bindingmolecules according to the present invention as a medicament or in themanufacture of a medicament. Preferably, said medicament is activeagainst cancer.

Preferably, said medicament is a cellular therapy, a vaccine or aprotein based on a soluble TCR or antibody.

The present invention further relates to a use according to the presentinvention, wherein said cancer cells are NHL, non-small cell lungcancer, small cell lung cancer, renal cell cancer, brain cancer, gastriccancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular cancer, pancreatic cancer,leukemia, breast cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, urinary bladdercancer, uterine cancer, gallbladder and bile duct cancer, and preferablyNHL cells.

The present invention further relates to biomarkers based on thepeptides according to the present invention, herein called “targets”that can be used in the diagnosis of cancer, preferably NHL. The markercan be over-presentation of the peptide(s) themselves, orover-expression of the corresponding gene(s). The markers may also beused to predict the probability of success of a treatment, preferably animmunotherapy, and most preferred an immunotherapy targeting the sametarget that is identified by the biomarker. For example, an antibody orsoluble TCR can be used to stain sections of the tumor to detect thepresence of a peptide of interest in complex with MHC.

Optionally the antibody carries a further effector function such as animmune stimulating domain or toxin.

The present invention also relates to the use of these novel targets inthe context of cancer treatment.

Both therapeutic and diagnostic uses against additional cancerousdiseases are disclosed in the following description of the underlyingexpression products (polypeptides) of the peptides according to theinvention.

ACHE encodes acetylcholinesterase which hydrolyzes the neurotransmitter,acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions and brain cholinergic synapses,and thus terminates signal transmission (RefSeq, 2002). ACHE may be amarker and regulator of apoptosis. It is involved in cell adhesion,differentiation, and proliferation and it is a promising tumorsuppressor (Greig et al., 2013; Xi et al., 2015). ACHE and BCHE areinvolved in tumorigenesis but their relationship is not clear yet (Shan,2004a). ACHE is abnormally expressed in meningioma, glioma, acousticneurinoma, lung cancer, colon cancer, fibrosarcoma and ovarian cancer(Russo et al., 2006; Shan, 2004a; Shan, 2004b). Treatment of theLambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, which has an idiopathic and atumor-associated form, includes the usage of acetylcholinesteraseinhibitors (Mareska and Gutmann, 2004; Verschuuren et al., 2006).Peptides spliced from the ACHE parent molecule as well as the parentprotein itself can act independently as signaling molecule (Bukowska,2005; Halliday and Greenfield, 2012).

ACN9 (also known as succinate dehydrogenase complex assembly factor 3(SDHAF3)) encodes ACN9 homolog and is located on chromosome 7q21.3(RefSeq, 2002). Wrong or absent SDH complex assembly can result incancer and neurodegenerative syndromes (Van Vranken et al., 2015).Various SNPs in ACN9 are associated with breast cancer (Kibriya et al.,2009).

CDC42 encodes cell division cycle 42 which is a small GTPase of theRho-subfamily, which regulates signaling pathways that control diversecellular functions including cell morphology, migration, endocytosis andcell cycle progression (RefSeq, 2002). CDC42 controls epithelial as wellas migratory polarity in combination with other regulators(Gandalovicova et al., 2016). c-Cbl is inhibited in glioblastomas andbasal-like breast cancer through alteration of Cool-1/betapix and CDC42(Noble et al., 2015). Exchange factors of CDC42, so called Dock familyproteins, are involved in cancer (Gadea and Blangy, 2014). CDC42 is aRhoGTPase located at epithelial tight junctions (Lane et al., 2014;Zihni and Terry, 2015). CDC42 is able to activate STAT3 which isover-expressed in a variety of cancers (Raptis et al., 2011). CDC42de-regulation is involved in cancer. It was shown that CDC42 signalingis involved in cellular transformation, cell division, cell invasion,migration, invadopodia formation, enzyme activity, filopodia formation,actin cytoskeleton alteration, and cell polarity. CDC42 regulates theinvasion in glioblastoma (Stengel and Zheng, 2011; Albergaria et al.,2011; Kwiatkowska and Symons, 2013; Qadir et al., 2015; Lin and Zheng,2015). Activated CDC42-associate kinase 1 (ACK1/TNK2) is an oncogenickinase. p21-activated kinase (PAK) 5 is a downstream effector kinase ofCDC42 and it is over-expressed in several cancer entities. PAK1 isup-regulated in cancer and is associated with tumor progression.Myotonic dystrophy-related CDC42-binding kinases (MRCK) are associatedwith human cancer (Mahajan and Mahajan, 2010; Eswaran et al., 2012;Maruta, 2014; Unbekandt and Olson, 2014; Dammann et al., 2014; Wen etal., 2014; Mahajan and Mahajan, 2015). CDC42 controls polarized atypicalprotein kinase C activity (Prehoda, 2009). The CDC42-IQGAP1 axis maydrive H. pylori-induced gastric carcinoma by negatively regulating thetumor suppressors E-cadherin and beta1-integrin (White et al., 2009;Osman et al., 2013). CDC42 is regulated via mTORC2 signaling and maybevia Notch signaling (Dotto, 2008; Zhou and Huang, 2011). Tiam1, GEFs,and RhoA are activators of CDC42 whereas Slit2 and Robo1 are inhibitors.CDC42 is regulated by CXCL12 and DLC-1 (Boissier and Huynh-Do, 2014;Sinha and Yang, 2008; Kim et al., 2009; Ben-Baruch, 2009; Xu et al.,2010; O'Connor and Chen, 2013). CDC42 is a downstream effector of CD44and HMGB1 resulting in angiogenesis, unlimited replicative potential,tissue invasion, and metastasis (Bourguignon, 2008; Hu et al., 2014).CDC42 is over-expressed in several cancer entities and may be correlatedwith poor prognosis. CDC42 over-expression in breast cancer maycontribute to ErbB1 accumulation (Hirsch and Wu, 2007; Arias-Romero andChernoff, 2013). The Golgi pool of CDC42 is regulated by a complex ofGM130 and RasGRF. GM130 is progressively lost in colorectal cancer(Baschieri and Farhan, 2015).

DCAKD encodes dephospho-CoA kinase domain containing and is located onchromosome 17q21.31 (RefSeq, 2002). DCAKD is up-regulated in breastcancer (Riis et al., 2012).

HAPLN3 encodes hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 3 which mayfunction in hyaluronic acid binding and cell adhesion (RefSeq, 2002). Athree-gene signature including HAPLN3 can be used as methylation markerin prostate cancer (Strand et al., 2014). A gene fusion product of MFGE8and HAPLN3 has been reported in breast cancer (Varley et al., 2014).HAPLN3 is hyper-methylated in prostate cancer (Haldrup et al., 2013).HAPLN3 is up-regulated in breast cancer and may be used as biomarker(Kuo et al., 2010).

JAK3 encodes Janus Kinase 3, a member of the Janus kinase (JAK) familyof tyrosine kinases involved in cytokine receptor-mediated intracellularsignal transduction. It is predominantly expressed in immune cells andtransduces a signal in response to its activation via tyrosinephosphorylation by interleukin receptors (RefSeq, 2002). JAK3 isde-regulated in different cancer types including cutaneous T-celllymphoma, extranodal nasal-type natural killer cell lymphoma, acutelymphoblastic leukemia, renal cell carcinoma and colon carcinoma (Lin etal., 2005; de et al., 2013; Bouchekioua et al., 2014; Sibbesen et al.,2015; Losdyck et al., 2015). JAK3 expression affects its down-streamtargets STAT3, STATS, MAPK, pS6, the tumor suppressor microRNA miR-22,Bcl-2, Bcl-X, cyclin D2, p21 and p27. Therefore, JAK2 controls cellgrowth, apoptosis and cell cycle progression (Lin et al., 2005; Sibbesenet al., 2015; Agarwal et al., 2015).

KDM2B encodes lysine demethylase 2B, a member of the F-box proteinfamily which is characterized by an approximately 40 amino acid motif,the F-box. The F-box proteins constitute one of the four subunits ofubiquitin protein ligase complex called SCFs (SKP1-cullin-F-box), whichfunction in phosphorylation-dependent ubiquitination (RefSeq, 2002).KDM2B over-expression leads to enhanced cell migration by binding tomigration-associated genes (Rohde et al., 2016). MiR-448, which isover-expressed in gastric cancer, down-regulates KDM2B. Myc is a keytarget of KDM2B (Hong et al., 2016). KDM2B mediates hematopoietic celldevelopment and shows opposing roles in tumor progression (Andricovichet al., 2016). KDM2B is a co-repressor of BCL6 (Oliviero et al., 2015).KDM2B is involved in PI3K/mTOR pathway and promotes cell proliferationand inhibits cell apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Ren et al.,2015). Local generation of fumarate inhibits KDM2B resulting in theactivation of DNA repair (Jiang et al., 2015). Depletion of KDM2Bresults in a p53-dependent growth arrest (Penzo et al., 2015). BCOR PFUDinternal tandem duplications can be found in pediatric kidney and braintumors. BCORL1 is part of the Polycomb Group Complex 1 (PRC1.1) which isrecruited by KDM2B to facilitate gene repression. The PRC1.1 isimportant for leukemic stem cells and down-regulation of complex memberslike KDM2B reduces cell proliferation (Yamamoto et al., 2014; He et al.,2013; Blackledge et al., 2014; van den Boom et al., 2016; Wong et al.,2016). KDM2B is a non-Yamanaka factor involved in cell reprogramming(Liang et al., 2012; Liu et al., 2015).

In bladder cancer, KDM2B is involved in cell proliferation, migration,and angiogenesis (Kottakis et al., 2011). KDM2B is over-expressed inseveral entities including basal-like triple-negative breast cancer andpancreatic cancer and regulates cell proliferation, chromatin structure,and senescence in HeLa cells. It is a positive regulator of glycolysis,glutaminolysis, and pyrimidine synthesis (Tzatsos et al., 2011; Tzatsoset al., 2013; Kottakis et al., 2014; Bacalini et al., 2015; Yu et al.,2015). KDM2B is an oncogene involved in leukemia development byimpairing Nsg2-mediated differentiation (He et al., 2011; Nakamura etal., 2013; Ueda et al., 2015). KDM2B is a NF-kappaB-dependentanti-apoptotic protein. KDM2B-dependent degradation of c-Fos negativelyregulates cell proliferation (Ge et al., 2011; Han et al., 2016).

KDMSB encodes the protein JARID1B, a lysine-specific histone demethylasethat is capable of repressing certain tumor suppressor genes byde-methylating lysine 4 of histone H3 (RefSeq, 2002). As epigeneticfactor, KDMSB supports proliferation, migration and invasion of humanOSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), breast cancer andlung cancer by suppressing p53 expression (Shen et al., 2015; Tang etal., 2015; Zhao and Liu, 2015; Lin et al., 2015). Also known as JARID1B,KDMSB promotes metastasis an epithelial-mesenchymal transition invarious tumor types via PTEN/AKT signaling (Tang et al., 2015).

PTTG1 encodes pituitary tumor-transforming 1. The encoded protein is ahomolog of yeast securing proteins, which prevent separins frompromoting sister chromatid separation. It is an anaphase-promotingcomplex (APC) substrate that associates with a separin until activationof the APC (RefSeq, 2002). PTTG1 is over-expressed in different cancertypes including oral cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostatecancer and skin cancer. High protein levels are associated withmetastasis and poor clinical outcome (Noll et al., 2015; Yoon et al.,2012; Huang et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2014; Chen et al., 2015). PTTG1is up-regulated in an mTOR complex 1-dependent manner. PTTG1 inhibitsTGFbeta1-dependent phosphorylation of SMAD3 to promote cell growth(Zhang et al., 2015; Chen et al., 2016). PTTG2 encodes pituitarytumor-transforming 2 and it is located on chromosome 4p12 (RefSeq,2002). Over-expression of the PTTG2 gene has been observed in high-gradeglioma, whereas in liver cancer tissues from patients PTTG2 was nothighly expressed (Yang et al., 2013; Cho-Rok et al., 2006). Elevatedlevels of PTTG2 were shown to promote cell proliferation and invasionduring glioblastoma progression (Guo et al., 2016).

SMC2 (also called CAP-E or SMC2L1) encodes a member of the structuralmaintenance of chromosomes family which is critical for mitoticchromosome condensation and DNA repair (RefSeq, 2002). The SMC2 gene isaltered by frameshift mutation and loss of expression in gastric andcolorectal cancer with microsatellite instability suggesting that SMC2might be involved in tumor pathogenesis (Je et al., 2014). SMC2 genealterations can play a role in genome instability, which accelerates theaccumulation of other alterations in pyothorax-associated lymphomas (Hamet al., 2007).

TMEM67 encodes transmembrane protein 67 and is localized to the primarycilium and to the plasma membrane. The gene functions in centriolemigration to the apical membrane and formation of the primary cilium.Defects in this gene are a cause of Meckel syndrome type 3 (MKS3) andJoubert syndrome type 6 (JBTS6) (RefSeq, 2002). TMEM67 is involved incilia formation and defective cilia may cause ocular coloboma, tonguetumors, and medulloblastoma (Han et al., 2010; Parisi, 2009; Yang etal., 2015; Han and Alvarez-Buylla, 2010).

Stimulation of an immune response is dependent upon the presence ofantigens recognized as foreign by the host immune system. The discoveryof the existence of tumor associated antigens has raised the possibilityof using a host's immune system to intervene in tumor growth. Variousmechanisms of harnessing both the humoral and cellular arms of theimmune system are currently being explored for cancer immunotherapy.

Specific elements of the cellular immune response are capable ofspecifically recognizing and destroying tumor cells. The isolation ofT-cells from tumor-infiltrating cell populations or from peripheralblood suggests that such cells play an important role in natural immunedefense against cancer. CD8-positive T-cells in particular, whichrecognize class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex(MHC)-bearing peptides of usually 8 to 10 amino acid residues derivedfrom proteins or defect ribosomal products (DRIPS) located in thecytosol, play an important role in this response. The MHC-molecules ofthe human are also designated as human leukocyte-antigens (HLA).

The term “T-cell response” means the specific proliferation andactivation of effector functions induced by a peptide in vitro or invivo. For MHC class I restricted cytotoxic T cells, effector functionsmay be lysis of peptide-pulsed, peptide-precursor pulsed or naturallypeptide-presenting target cells, secretion of cytokines, preferablyInterferon-gamma, TNF-alpha, or IL-2 induced by peptide, secretion ofeffector molecules, preferably granzymes or perforins induced bypeptide, or degranulation.

The term “peptide” is used herein to designate a series of amino acidresidues, connected one to the other typically by peptide bonds betweenthe alpha-amino and carbonyl groups of the adjacent amino acids. Thepeptides are preferably 9 amino acids in length, but can be as short as8 amino acids in length, and as long as 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 or longer,and in case of MHC class II peptides (elongated variants of the peptidesof the invention) they can be as long as 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 ormore amino acids in length.

Furthermore, the term “peptide” shall include salts of a series of aminoacid residues, connected one to the other typically by peptide bondsbetween the alpha-amino and carbonyl groups of the adjacent amino acids.Preferably, the salts are pharmaceutical acceptable salts of thepeptides, such as, for example, the chloride or acetate(trifluoroacetate) salts. It has to be noted that the salts of thepeptides according to the present invention differ substantially fromthe peptides in their state(s) in vivo, as the peptides are not salts invivo.

The term “peptide” shall also include “oligopeptide”. The term“oligopeptide” is used herein to designate a series of amino acidresidues, connected one to the other typically by peptide bonds betweenthe alpha-amino and carbonyl groups of the adjacent amino acids.

The length of the oligopeptide is not critical to the invention, as longas the correct epitope or epitopes are maintained therein. Theoligopeptides are typically less than about 30 amino acid residues inlength, and greater than about 15 amino acids in length.

The term “polypeptide” designates a series of amino acid residues,connected one to the other typically by peptide bonds between thealpha-amino and carbonyl groups of the adjacent amino acids. The lengthof the polypeptide is not critical to the invention as long as thecorrect epitopes are maintained. In contrast to the terms peptide oroligopeptide, the term polypeptide is meant to refer to moleculescontaining more than about 30 amino acid residues.

A peptide, oligopeptide, protein or polynucleotide coding for such amolecule is “immunogenic” (and thus is an “immunogen” within the presentinvention), if it is capable of inducing an immune response. In the caseof the present invention, immunogenicity is more specifically defined asthe ability to induce a T-cell response. Thus, an “immunogen” would be amolecule that is capable of inducing an immune response, and in the caseof the present invention, a molecule capable of inducing a T-cellresponse. In another aspect, the immunogen can be the peptide, thecomplex of the peptide with MHC, oligopeptide, and/or protein that isused to raise specific antibodies or TCRs against it.

A class I T cell “epitope” requires a short peptide that is bound to aclass I MHC receptor, forming a ternary complex (MHC class I alphachain, beta-2-microglobulin, and peptide) that can be recognized by a Tcell bearing a matching T-cell receptor binding to the MHC/peptidecomplex with appropriate affinity. Peptides binding to MHC class Imolecules are typically 8-14 amino acids in length, and most typically 9amino acids in length.

In humans, there are three different genetic loci that encode MHC classI molecules (the MHC-molecules of the human are also designated humanleukocyte antigens (HLA)): HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C. HLA-A*01, HLA-A*02,and HLA-B*07 are examples of different MHC class I alleles that can beexpressed from these loci.

TABLE 5 Expression frequencies F of HLA-A*02 and HLA-A*24 and the mostfrequent HLA-DR serotypes. Frequencies are deduced from haplotypefrequencies Gf within the American population adapted from Mori et al.(Mori et al., 1997) employing the Hardy-Weinberg formula F = 1 − (1 −Gf)². Combinations of A*02 or A*24 with certain HLA-DR alleles might beenriched or less frequent than expected from their single frequenciesdue to linkage disequilibrium. For details refer to Chanock et al.(Chanock et al., 2004). Calculated phenotype Allele Population fromallele frequency A*02 Caucasian (North America)  49.1% A*02 AfricanAmerican (North America)  34.1% A*02 Asian American (North America) 43.2% A*02 Latin American (North American)  48.3% DR1 Caucasian (NorthAmerica)  19.4% DR2 Caucasian (North America)  28.2% DR3 Caucasian(North America)  20.6% DR4 Caucasian (North America)  30.7% DR5Caucasian (North America)  23.3% DR6 Caucasian (North America)  26.7%DR7 Caucasian (North America)  24.8% DR8 Caucasian (North America)  5.7%DR9 Caucasian (North America)  2.1% DR1 African (North) American 13.20%DR2 African (North) American 29.80% DR3 African (North) American 24.80%DR4 African (North) American 11.10% DR5 African (North) American 31.10%DR6 African (North) American 33.70% DR7 African (North) American 19.20%DR8 African (North) American 12.10% DR9 African (North) American  5.80%DR1 Asian (North) American  6.80% DR2 Asian (North) American 33.80% DR3Asian (North) American  9.20% DR4 Asian (North) American 28.60% DR5Asian (North) American 30.00% DR6 Asian (North) American 25.10% DR7Asian (North) American 13.40% DR8 Asian (North) American 12.70% DR9Asian (North) American 18.60% DR1 Latin (North) American 15.30% DR2Latin (North) American 21.20% DR3 Latin (North) American 15.20% DR4Latin (North) American 36.80% DR5 Latin (North) American 20.00% DR6Latin (North) American 31.10% DR7 Latin (North) American 20.20% DR8Latin (North) American 18.60% DR9 Latin (North) American  2.10% A*24Philippines   65% A*24 Russia Nenets   61% A*24:02 Japan   59% A*24Malaysia   58% A*24:02 Philippines   54% A*24 India   47% A*24 SouthKorea   40% A*24 Sri Lanka   37% A*24 China   32% A*24:02 India   29%A*24 Australia West   22% A*24 USA   22% A*24 Russia Samara   20% A*24South America   20% A*24 Europe   18%

The peptides of the invention, preferably when included into a vaccineof the invention as described herein bind to A*02. A vaccine may alsoinclude pan-binding MHC class II peptides. Therefore, the vaccine of theinvention can be used to treat cancer in patients that are A*02positive, whereas no selection for MHC class II allotypes is necessarydue to the pan-binding nature of these peptides.

If A*02 peptides of the invention are combined with peptides binding toanother allele, for example A*24, a higher percentage of any patientpopulation can be treated compared with addressing either MHC class Iallele alone. While in most populations less than 50% of patients couldbe addressed by either allele alone, a vaccine comprising HLA-A*24 andHLA-A*02 epitopes can treat at least 60% of patients in any relevantpopulation. Specifically, the following percentages of patients will bepositive for at least one of these alleles in various regions: USA 61%,Western Europe 62%, China 75%, South Korea 77%, Japan 86% (calculatedfrom www.allelefrequencies.net).

In a preferred embodiment, the term “nucleotide sequence” refers to aheteropolymer of deoxyribonucleotides.

The nucleotide sequence coding for a particular peptide, oligopeptide,or polypeptide may be naturally occurring or they may be syntheticallyconstructed. Generally, DNA segments encoding the peptides,polypeptides, and proteins of this invention are assembled from cDNAfragments and short oligonucleotide linkers, or from a series ofoligonucleotides, to provide a synthetic gene that is capable of beingexpressed in a recombinant transcriptional unit comprising regulatoryelements derived from a microbial or viral operon.

As used herein the term “a nucleotide coding for (or encoding) apeptide” refers to a nucleotide sequence coding for the peptideincluding artificial (man-made) start and stop codons compatible for thebiological system the sequence is to be expressed by, for example, adendritic cell or another cell system useful for the production of TCRs.

As used herein, reference to a nucleic acid sequence includes bothsingle stranded and double stranded nucleic acid. Thus, for example forDNA, the specific sequence, unless the context indicates otherwise,refers to the single strand DNA of such sequence, the duplex of suchsequence with its complement (double stranded DNA) and the complement ofsuch sequence.

The term “coding region” refers to that portion of a gene which eithernaturally or normally codes for the expression product of that gene inits natural genomic environment, i.e., the region coding in vivo for thenative expression product of the gene.

The coding region can be derived from a non-mutated (“normal”), mutatedor altered gene, or can even be derived from a DNA sequence, or gene,wholly synthesized in the laboratory using methods well known to thoseof skill in the art of DNA synthesis.

The term “expression product” means the polypeptide or protein that isthe natural translation product of the gene and any nucleic acidsequence coding equivalents resulting from genetic code degeneracy andthus coding for the same amino acid(s).

The term “fragment”, when referring to a coding sequence, means aportion of DNA comprising less than the complete coding region, whoseexpression product retains essentially the same biological function oractivity as the expression product of the complete coding region.

The term “DNA segment” refers to a DNA polymer, in the form of aseparate fragment or as a component of a larger DNA construct, which hasbeen derived from DNA isolated at least once in substantially pure form,i.e., free of contaminating endogenous materials and in a quantity orconcentration enabling identification, manipulation, and recovery of thesegment and its component nucleotide sequences by standard biochemicalmethods, for example, by using a cloning vector. Such segments areprovided in the form of an open reading frame uninterrupted by internalnon-translated sequences, or introns, which are typically present ineukaryotic genes. Sequences of non-translated DNA may be presentdownstream from the open reading frame, where the same do not interferewith manipulation or expression of the coding regions.

The term “primer” means a short nucleic acid sequence that can be pairedwith one strand of DNA and provides a free 3′-OH end at which a DNApolymerase starts synthesis of a deoxyribonucleotide chain.

The term “promoter” means a region of DNA involved in binding of RNApolymerase to initiate transcription.

The term “isolated” means that the material is removed from its originalenvironment (e.g., the natural environment, if it is naturallyoccurring). For example, a naturally-occurring polynucleotide orpolypeptide present in a living animal is not isolated, but the samepolynucleotide or polypeptide, separated from some or all of thecoexisting materials in the natural system, is isolated. Suchpolynucleotides could be part of a vector and/or such polynucleotides orpolypeptides could be part of a composition, and still be isolated inthat such vector or composition is not part of its natural environment.

The polynucleotides, and recombinant or immunogenic polypeptides,disclosed in accordance with the present invention may also be in“purified” form. The term “purified” does not require absolute purity;rather, it is intended as a relative definition, and can includepreparations that are highly purified or preparations that are onlypartially purified, as those terms are understood by those of skill inthe relevant art. For example, individual clones isolated from a cDNAlibrary have been conventionally purified to electrophoretichomogeneity. Purification of starting material or natural material to atleast one order of magnitude, preferably two or three orders, and morepreferably four or five orders of magnitude is expressly contemplated.Furthermore, a claimed polypeptide which has a purity of preferably99.999%, or at least 99.99% or 99.9%; and even desirably 99% by weightor greater is expressly encompassed.

The nucleic acids and polypeptide expression products disclosedaccording to the present invention, as well as expression vectorscontaining such nucleic acids and/or such polypeptides, may be in“enriched form”. As used herein, the term “enriched” means that theconcentration of the material is at least about 2, 5, 10, 100, or 1000times its natural concentration (for example), advantageously 0.01%, byweight, preferably at least about 0.1% by weight. Enriched preparationsof about 0.5%, 1%, 5%, 10%, and 20% by weight are also contemplated. Thesequences, constructs, vectors, clones, and other materials comprisingthe present invention can advantageously be in enriched or isolatedform. The term “active fragment” means a fragment, usually of a peptide,polypeptide or nucleic acid sequence, that generates an immune response(i.e., has immunogenic activity) when administered, alone or optionallywith a suitable adjuvant or in a vector, to an animal, such as a mammal,for example, a rabbit or a mouse, and also including a human, suchimmune response taking the form of stimulating a T-cell response withinthe recipient animal, such as a human. Alternatively, the “activefragment” may also be used to induce a T-cell response in vitro.

As used herein, the terms “portion”, “segment” and “fragment”, when usedin relation to polypeptides, refer to a continuous sequence of residues,such as amino acid residues, which sequence forms a subset of a largersequence. For example, if a polypeptide were subjected to treatment withany of the common endopeptidases, such as trypsin or chymotrypsin, theoligopeptides resulting from such treatment would represent portions,segments or fragments of the starting polypeptide. When used in relationto polynucleotides, these terms refer to the products produced bytreatment of said polynucleotides with any of the endonucleases.

In accordance with the present invention, the term “percent identity” or“percent identical”, when referring to a sequence, means that a sequenceis compared to a claimed or described sequence after alignment of thesequence to be compared (the “Compared Sequence”) with the described orclaimed sequence (the “Reference Sequence”). The percent identity isthen determined according to the following formula:

percent identity=100[1−(C/R)]

wherein C is the number of differences between the Reference Sequenceand the Compared Sequence over the length of alignment between theReference Sequence and the Compared Sequence, wherein(i) each base or amino acid in the Reference Sequence that does not havea corresponding aligned base or amino acid in the Compared Sequence and(ii) each gap in the Reference Sequence and(iii) each aligned base or amino acid in the Reference Sequence that isdifferent from an aligned base or amino acid in the Compared Sequence,constitutes a difference and(iiii) the alignment has to start at position 1 of the alignedsequences;and R is the number of bases or amino acids in the Reference Sequenceover the length of the alignment with the Compared Sequence with any gapcreated in the Reference Sequence also being counted as a base or aminoacid.

If an alignment exists between the Compared Sequence and the ReferenceSequence for which the percent identity as calculated above is aboutequal to or greater than a specified minimum Percent Identity then theCompared Sequence has the specified minimum percent identity to theReference Sequence even though alignments may exist in which the hereinabove calculated percent identity is less than the specified percentidentity.

As mentioned above, the present invention thus provides a peptidecomprising a sequence that is selected from the group of consisting ofSEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311 or a variant thereof which is 88%homologous to SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311, or a variant thereof thatwill induce T cells cross-reacting with said peptide. The peptides ofthe invention have the ability to bind to a molecule of the human majorhistocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I or elongated versions of saidpeptides to class II.

In the present invention, the term “homologous” refers to the degree ofidentity (see percent identity above) between sequences of two aminoacid sequences, i.e. peptide or polypeptide sequences. Theaforementioned “homology” is determined by comparing two sequencesaligned under optimal conditions over the sequences to be compared. Sucha sequence homology can be calculated by creating an alignment using,for example, the ClustalW algorithm. Commonly available sequenceanalysis software, more specifically, Vector NTI, GENETYX or other toolsare provided by public databases.

A person skilled in the art will be able to assess, whether T cellsinduced by a variant of a specific peptide will be able to cross-reactwith the peptide itself (Appay et al., 2006; Colombetti et al., 2006;Fong et al., 2001; Zaremba et al., 1997).

By a “variant” of the given amino acid sequence the inventors mean thatthe side chains of, for example, one or two of the amino acid residuesare altered (for example by replacing them with the side chain ofanother naturally occurring amino acid residue or some other side chain)such that the peptide is still able to bind to an HLA molecule insubstantially the same way as a peptide consisting of the given aminoacid sequence in consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311. Forexample, a peptide may be modified so that it at least maintains, if notimproves, the ability to interact with and bind to the binding groove ofa suitable MHC molecule, such as HLA-A*02 or -DR, and in that way, it atleast maintains, if not improves, the ability to bind to the TCR ofactivated T cells.

These T cells can subsequently cross-react with cells and kill cellsthat express a polypeptide that contains the natural amino acid sequenceof the cognate peptide as defined in the aspects of the invention. Ascan be derived from the scientific literature and databases (Rammenseeet al., 1999; Godkin et al., 1997), certain positions of HLA bindingpeptides are typically anchor residues forming a core sequence fittingto the binding motif of the HLA receptor, which is defined by polar,electrophysical, hydrophobic and spatial properties of the polypeptidechains constituting the binding groove. Thus, one skilled in the artwould be able to modify the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO 311, by maintaining the known anchor residues, and wouldbe able to determine whether such variants maintain the ability to bindMHC class I or II molecules. The variants of the present inventionretain the ability to bind to the TCR of activated T cells, which cansubsequently cross-react with and kill cells that express a polypeptidecontaining the natural amino acid sequence of the cognate peptide asdefined in the aspects of the invention.

The original (unmodified) peptides as disclosed herein can be modifiedby the substitution of one or more residues at different, possiblyselective, sites within the peptide chain, if not otherwise stated.Preferably those substitutions are located at the end of the amino acidchain. Such substitutions may be of a conservative nature, for example,where one amino acid is replaced by an amino acid of similar structureand characteristics, such as where a hydrophobic amino acid is replacedby another hydrophobic amino acid. Even more conservative would bereplacement of amino acids of the same or similar size and chemicalnature, such as where leucine is replaced by isoleucine. In studies ofsequence variations in families of naturally occurring homologousproteins, certain amino acid substitutions are more often tolerated thanothers, and these are often show correlation with similarities in size,charge, polarity, and hydrophobicity between the original amino acid andits replacement, and such is the basis for defining “conservativesubstitutions.”

Conservative substitutions are herein defined as exchanges within one ofthe following five groups: Group 1-small aliphatic, nonpolar or slightlypolar residues (Ala, Ser, Thr, Pro, Gly); Group 2-polar, negativelycharged residues and their amides (Asp, Asn, Glu, Gln); Group 3-polar,positively charged residues (His, Arg, Lys); Group 4-large, aliphatic,nonpolar residues (Met, Leu, Ile, Val, Cys); and Group 5-large, aromaticresidues (Phe, Tyr, Trp).

Less conservative substitutions might involve the replacement of oneamino acid by another that has similar characteristics but is somewhatdifferent in size, such as replacement of an alanine by an isoleucineresidue. Highly non-conservative replacements might involve substitutingan acidic amino acid for one that is polar, or even for one that isbasic in character. Such “radical” substitutions cannot, however, bedismissed as potentially ineffective since chemical effects are nottotally predictable and radical substitutions might well give rise toserendipitous effects not otherwise predictable from simple chemicalprinciples.

Of course, such substitutions may involve structures other than thecommon L-amino acids. Thus, D-amino acids might be substituted for theL-amino acids commonly found in the antigenic peptides of the inventionand yet still be encompassed by the disclosure herein. In addition,non-standard amino acids (i.e., other than the common naturallyoccurring proteinogenic amino acids) may also be used for substitutionpurposes to produce immunogens and immunogenic polypeptides according tothe present invention.

If substitutions at more than one position are found to result in apeptide with substantially equivalent or greater antigenic activity asdefined below, then combinations of those substitutions will be testedto determine if the combined substitutions result in additive orsynergistic effects on the antigenicity of the peptide. At most, no morethan 4 positions within the peptide would be simultaneously substituted.

A peptide consisting essentially of the amino acid sequence as indicatedherein can have one or two non-anchor amino acids (see below regardingthe anchor motif) exchanged without that the ability to bind to amolecule of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I or-II is substantially changed or is negatively affected, when compared tothe non-modified peptide. In another embodiment, in a peptide consistingessentially of the amino acid sequence as indicated herein, one or twoamino acids can be exchanged with their conservative exchange partners(see herein below) without that the ability to bind to a molecule of thehuman major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I or -II issubstantially changed, or is negatively affected, when compared to thenon-modified peptide.

The amino acid residues that do not substantially contribute tointeractions with the T-cell receptor can be modified by replacementwith other amino acids whose incorporation do not substantially affectT-cell reactivity and does not eliminate binding to the relevant MHC.Thus, apart from the proviso given, the peptide of the invention may beany peptide (by which term the inventors include oligopeptide orpolypeptide), which includes the amino acid sequences or a portion orvariant thereof as given.

TABLE 6 Variants and motif of the peptides according to SEQ ID NO: 2, 5,and 8. Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SEQ ID NO. 2 L L S E E T P S AVariants V I L M M V M I M L A A V A I A L V V V V I V L T T V T I T L QQ V Q I Q L SEQ ID NO 5 V L Q G L T F T L Variants A I V M M A M I M V AA A A I A V V V A V I V V T T A T I T V Q Q A Q I Q V SEQ ID NO. 8 A L YA V I E K A Variants V I L M M V M I M L A A V A I A L V V V V I V L T TV T I T L Q Q V Q I Q L

Longer (elongated) peptides may also be suitable. It is possible thatMHC class I epitopes, although usually between 8 and 11 amino acidslong, are generated by peptide processing from longer peptides orproteins that include the actual epitope. It is preferred that theresidues that flank the actual epitope are residues that do notsubstantially affect proteolytic cleavage necessary to expose the actualepitope during processing.

The peptides of the invention can be elongated by up to four aminoacids, that is 1, 2, 3 or 4 amino acids can be added to either end inany combination between 4:0 and 0:4. Combinations of the elongationsaccording to the invention can be found in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Combinations of the elongations of peptides of the inventionC-terminus N-terminus 4 0 3 0 or 1 2 0 or 1 or 2 1 0 or 1 or 2 or 3 0 0or 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 N-terminus C-terminus 4 0 3 0 or 1 2 0 or 1 or 2 1 0or 1 or 2 or 3 0 0 or 1 or 2 or 3 or 4

The amino acids for the elongation/extension can be the peptides of theoriginal sequence of the protein or any other amino acid(s). Theelongation can be used to enhance the stability or solubility of thepeptides.

Thus, the epitopes of the present invention may be identical tonaturally occurring tumor-associated or tumor-specific epitopes or mayinclude epitopes that differ by no more than four residues from thereference peptide, as long as they have substantially identicalantigenic activity.

In an alternative embodiment, the peptide is elongated on either or bothsides by more than 4 amino acids, preferably to a total length of up to30 amino acids. This may lead to MHC class II binding peptides. Bindingto MHC class II can be tested by methods known in the art.

Accordingly, the present invention provides peptides and variants of MHCclass I epitopes, wherein the peptide or variant has an overall lengthof between 8 and 100, preferably between 8 and 30, and most preferredbetween 8 and 14, namely 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 amino acids, in caseof the elongated class II binding peptides the length can also be 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 amino acids.

Of course, the peptide or variant according to the present inventionwill have the ability to bind to a molecule of the human majorhistocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II. Binding of a peptide ora variant to a MHC complex may be tested by methods known in the art.

Preferably, when the T cells specific for a peptide according to thepresent invention are tested against the substituted peptides, thepeptide concentration at which the substituted peptides achieve half themaximal increase in lysis relative to background is no more than about 1mM, preferably no more than about 1 μM, more preferably no more thanabout 1 nM, and still more preferably no more than about 100 pM, andmost preferably no more than about 10 pM. It is also preferred that thesubstituted peptide be recognized by T cells from more than oneindividual, at least two, and more preferably three individuals.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the peptideconsists or consists essentially of an amino acid sequence according toSEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311.

“Consisting essentially of” shall mean that a peptide according to thepresent invention, in addition to the sequence according to any of SEQID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO 311 or a variant thereof contains additional N-and/or C-terminally located stretches of amino acids that are notnecessarily forming part of the peptide that functions as an epitope forMHC molecules epitope.

Nevertheless, these stretches can be important to provide an efficientintroduction of the peptide according to the present invention into thecells. In one embodiment of the present invention, the peptide is partof a fusion protein which comprises, for example, the 80 N-terminalamino acids of the HLA-DR antigen-associated invariant chain (p33, inthe following “Ii”) as derived from the NCBI, GenBank Accession numberX00497. In other fusions, the peptides of the present invention can befused to an antibody as described herein, or a functional part thereof,in particular into a sequence of an antibody, so as to be specificallytargeted by said antibody, or, for example, to or into an antibody thatis specific for dendritic cells as described herein.

In addition, the peptide or variant may be modified further to improvestability and/or binding to MHC molecules in order to elicit a strongerimmune response. Methods for such an optimization of a peptide sequenceare well known in the art and include, for example, the introduction ofreverse peptide bonds or non-peptide bonds.

In a reverse peptide bond amino acid residues are not joined by peptide(—CO—NH—) linkages but the peptide bond is reversed. Such retro-inversopeptidomimetics may be made using methods known in the art, for examplesuch as those described in Meziere et al (1997) (Meziere et al., 1997),incorporated herein by reference. This approach involves makingpseudopeptides containing changes involving the backbone, and not theorientation of side chains. Meziere et al. (Meziere et al., 1997) showthat for MHC binding and T helper cell responses, these pseudopeptidesare useful. Retro-inverse peptides, which contain NH—CO bonds instead ofCO—NH peptide bonds, are much more resistant to proteolysis.

A non-peptide bond is, for example, —CH₂—NH, —CH₂S—, —CH₂CH₂—, —CH═CH—,—COCH₂—, —CH(OH)CH₂—, and —CH₂SO—. U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,445 provides amethod for the solid phase synthesis of non-peptide bonds (—CH₂—NH) inpolypeptide chains which involves polypeptides synthesized by standardprocedures and the non-peptide bond synthesized by reacting an aminoaldehyde and an amino acid in the presence of NaCNBH₃.

Peptides comprising the sequences described above may be synthesizedwith additional chemical groups present at their amino and/or carboxytermini, to enhance the stability, bioavailability, and/or affinity ofthe peptides. For example, hydrophobic groups such as carbobenzoxyl,dansyl, or t-butyloxycarbonyl groups may be added to the peptides' aminotermini. Likewise, an acetyl group or a 9-fluorenylmethoxy-carbonylgroup may be placed at the peptides' amino termini. Additionally, thehydrophobic group, t-butyloxycarbonyl, or an amido group may be added tothe peptides' carboxy termini.

Further, the peptides of the invention may be synthesized to alter theirsteric configuration. For example, the D-isomer of one or more of theamino acid residues of the peptide may be used, rather than the usualL-isomer. Still further, at least one of the amino acid residues of thepeptides of the invention may be substituted by one of the well-knownnon-naturally occurring amino acid residues. Alterations such as thesemay serve to increase the stability, bioavailability and/or bindingaction of the peptides of the invention.

Similarly, a peptide or variant of the invention may be modifiedchemically by reacting specific amino acids either before or aftersynthesis of the peptide. Examples for such modifications are well knownin the art and are summarized e.g. in R. Lundblad, Chemical Reagents forProtein Modification, 3rd ed. CRC Press, 2004 (Lundblad, 2004), which isincorporated herein by reference. Chemical modification of amino acidsincludes but is not limited to, modification by acylation, amidination,pyridoxylation of lysine, reductive alkylation, trinitrobenzylation ofamino groups with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS), amidemodification of carboxyl groups and sulphydryl modification by performicacid oxidation of cysteine to cysteic acid, formation of mercurialderivatives, formation of mixed disulphides with other thiol compounds,reaction with maleimide, carboxymethylation with iodoacetic acid oriodoacetamide and carbamoylation with cyanate at alkaline pH, althoughwithout limitation thereto. In this regard, the skilled person isreferred to Chapter 15 of Current Protocols In Protein Science, Eds.Coligan et al. (John Wiley and Sons NY 1995-2000) (Coligan et al., 1995)for more extensive methodology relating to chemical modification ofproteins.

Briefly, modification of e.g. arginyl residues in proteins is oftenbased on the reaction of vicinal dicarbonyl compounds such asphenylglyoxal, 2,3-butanedione, and 1,2-cyclohexanedione to form anadduct. Another example is the reaction of methylglyoxal with arginineresidues. Cysteine can be modified without concomitant modification ofother nucleophilic sites such as lysine and histidine. As a result, alarge number of reagents are available for the modification of cysteine.The websites of companies such as Sigma-Aldrich (www.sigma-aldrich.com)provide information on specific reagents.

Selective reduction of disulfide bonds in proteins is also common.Disulfide bonds can be formed and oxidized during the heat treatment ofbiopharmaceuticals. Woodward's Reagent K may be used to modify specificglutamic acid residues. N-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimidecan be used to form intra-molecular crosslinks between a lysine residueand a glutamic acid residue. For example, diethylpyrocarbonate is areagent for the modification of histidyl residues in proteins. Histidinecan also be modified using 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. The reaction of lysineresidues and other α-amino groups is, for example, useful in binding ofpeptides to surfaces or the cross-linking of proteins/peptides. Lysineis the site of attachment of poly(ethylene)glycol and the major site ofmodification in the glycosylation of proteins. Methionine residues inproteins can be modified with e.g. iodoacetamide, bromoethylamine, andchloramine T.

Tetranitromethane and N-acetylimidazole can be used for the modificationof tyrosyl residues. Cross-linking via the formation of dityrosine canbe accomplished with hydrogen peroxide/copper ions.

Recent studies on the modification of tryptophan have usedN-bromosuccinimide, 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide or3-bromo-3-methyl-2-(2-nitrophenylmercapto)-3H-indole (BPNS-skatole).

Successful modification of therapeutic proteins and peptides with PEG isoften associated with an extension of circulatory half-life whilecross-linking of proteins with glutaraldehyde, polyethylene glycoldiacrylate and formaldehyde is used for the preparation of hydrogels.Chemical modification of allergens for immunotherapy is often achievedby carbamylation with potassium cyanate.

A peptide or variant, wherein the peptide is modified or includesnon-peptide bonds is a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a non-naturallyoccurring peptide wherein said peptide consists or consists essentiallyof an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID No: 1 to SEQ ID No: 311and has been synthetically produced (e.g. synthesized) as apharmaceutically acceptable salt. Methods to synthetically producepeptides are well known in the art. The salts of the peptides accordingto the present invention differ substantially from the peptides in theirstate(s) in vivo, as the peptides as generated in vivo are no salts. Thenon-natural salt form of the peptide mediates the solubility of thepeptide, in particular in the context of pharmaceutical compositionscomprising the peptides, e.g. the peptide vaccines as disclosed herein.A sufficient and at least substantial solubility of the peptide(s) isrequired in order to efficiently provide the peptides to the subject tobe treated. Preferably, the salts are pharmaceutically acceptable saltsof the peptides. These salts according to the invention include alkalineand earth alkaline salts such as salts of the Hofmeister seriescomprising as anions PO₄ ³⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, CH₃COO⁻, Cl⁻, Br, NO₃, ClO₄ ⁻, I⁻,SCN⁻ and as cations NH₄ ⁺, Rb⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Cs⁺, Li⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺,Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ba²⁺. Particularly salts are selected from (NH₄)₃PO₄,(NH₄)₂HPO₄, (NH₄)H₂PO₄, (NH₄)₂SO₄, NH₄CH₃COO, NH₄Cl, NH₄Br, NH₄NO₃,NH₄ClO₄, NH₄I, NH₄SCN, Rb₃PO₄, Rb₂HPO₄, RbH₂PO₄, Rb₂SO₄, Rb₄CH₃COO,Rb₄Cl, Rb₄Br, Rb₄NO₃, Rb₄ClO₄, Rb₄I, Rb₄SCN, K₃PO₄, K₂HPO₄, KH₂PO₄,K₂SO₄, KCH₃COO, KCl, KBr, KNO₃, KClO₄, KI, KSCN, Na₃PO₄, Na₂HPO₄,NaH₂PO₄, Na₂SO₄, NaCH₃COO, NaCl, NaBr, NaNO₃, NaClO₄, NaI, NaSCN, ZnCl₂Cs₃PO₄, Cs₂HPO₄, CsH₂PO₄, Cs₂SO₄, CsCH₃COO, CsCl, CsBr, CsNO₃, CsClO₄,CsI, CsSCN, Li₃PO₄, Li₂HPO₄, LiH₂PO₄, Li₂SO₄, LiCH₃COO, LiCl, LiBr,LiNO₃, LiClO₄, LiI, LiSCN, Cu₂SO₄, Mg₃(PO₄)₂, Mg₂HPO₄, Mg(H₂PO₄)₂,Mg₂SO₄, Mg(CH₃COO)₂, MgCl₂, MgBr₂, Mg(NO₃)₂, Mg(ClO₄)₂, MgI₂, Mg(SCN)₂,MnCl₂, Ca₃(PO₄)Ca₂HPO₄, Ca(H₂PO₄)₂, CaSO₄, Ca(CH₃COO)₂, CaCl₂, CaBr₂,Ca(NO₃)₂, Ca(ClO₄)₂, CaI₂, Ca(SCN)₂, Ba₃(PO₄)₂, Ba₂HPO₄, Ba(H₂PO₄)₂,BaSO₄, Ba(CH₃COO)₂, BaCl₂, BaBr₂, Ba(NO₃)₂, Ba(ClO₄)₂, BaI₂, andBa(SCN)₂. Particularly preferred are NH acetate, MgCl₂, KH₂PO₄, Na₂SO₄,KCl, NaCl, and CaCl₂, such as, for example, the chloride or acetate(trifluoroacetate) salts.

Generally, peptides and variants (at least those containing peptidelinkages between amino acid residues) may be synthesized by theFmoc-polyamide mode of solid-phase peptide synthesis as disclosed byLukas et al. (Lukas et al., 1981) and by references as cited therein.Temporary N-amino group protection is afforded by the9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) group. Repetitive cleavage of thishighly base-labile protecting group is done using 20% piperidine in N,N-dimethylformamide. Side-chain functionalities may be protected astheir butyl ethers (in the case of serine threonine and tyrosine), butylesters (in the case of glutamic acid and aspartic acid),butyloxycarbonyl derivative (in the case of lysine and histidine),trityl derivative (in the case of cysteine) and4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethylbenzenesulphonyl derivative (in the case ofarginine). Where glutamine or asparagine are C-terminal residues, use ismade of the 4,4′-dimethoxybenzhydryl group for protection of the sidechain amido functionalities. The solid-phase support is based on apolydimethyl-acrylamide polymer constituted from the three monomersdimethylacrylamide (backbone-monomer), bisacryloylethylene diamine(cross linker) and acryloylsarcosine methyl ester (functionalizingagent). The peptide-to-resin cleavable linked agent used is theacid-labile 4-hydroxymethyl-phenoxyacetic acid derivative. All aminoacid derivatives are added as their preformed symmetrical anhydridederivatives with the exception of asparagine and glutamine, which areadded using a reversed N,N-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide/1hydroxybenzotriazole mediated couplingprocedure. All coupling and deprotection reactions are monitored usingninhydrin, trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid or isotin test procedures.Upon completion of synthesis, peptides are cleaved from the resinsupport with concomitant removal of side-chain protecting groups bytreatment with 95% trifluoroacetic acid containing a 50% scavenger mix.Scavengers commonly used include ethanedithiol, phenol, anisole andwater, the exact choice depending on the constituent amino acids of thepeptide being synthesized. Also a combination of solid phase andsolution phase methodologies for the synthesis of peptides is possible(see, for example, (Bruckdorfer et al., 2004), and the references ascited therein).

Trifluoroacetic acid is removed by evaporation in vacuo, with subsequenttrituration with diethyl ether affording the crude peptide. Anyscavengers present are removed by a simple extraction procedure which onlyophilization of the aqueous phase affords the crude peptide free ofscavengers. Reagents for peptide synthesis are generally available frome.g. Calbiochem-Novabiochem (Nottingham, UK).

Purification may be performed by any one, or a combination of,techniques such as re-crystallization, size exclusion chromatography,ion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and(usually) reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography usinge.g. acetonitrile/water gradient separation.

Analysis of peptides may be carried out using thin layer chromatography,electrophoresis, in particular capillary electrophoresis, solid phaseextraction (CSPE), reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography,amino-acid analysis after acid hydrolysis and by fast atom bombardment(FAB) mass spectrometric analysis, as well as MALDI and ESI-Q-TOF massspectrometric analysis.

In order to select over-presented peptides, a presentation profile iscalculated showing the median sample presentation as well as replicatevariation. The profile juxtaposes samples of the tumor entity ofinterest to a baseline of normal tissue samples. Each of these profilescan then be consolidated into an over-presentation score by calculatingthe p-value of a Linear Mixed-Effects Model (Pinheiro et al., 2015)adjusting for multiple testing by False Discovery Rate (Benjamini andHochberg, 1995) (cf. Example 1, FIGS. 1A to 1P).

For the identification and relative quantitation of HLA ligands by massspectrometry, HLA molecules from shock-frozen tissue samples werepurified and HLA-associated peptides were isolated. The isolatedpeptides were separated and sequences were identified by onlinenano-electrospray-ionization (nanoESI) liquid chromatography-massspectrometry (LC-MS) experiments. The resulting peptide sequences wereverified by comparison of the fragmentation pattern of naturaltumor-associated peptides (TUMAPs) recorded from NHL samples (N=18A*02-positive samples) with the fragmentation patterns of correspondingsynthetic reference peptides of identical sequences. Since the peptideswere directly identified as ligands of HLA molecules of primary tumors,these results provide direct evidence for the natural processing andpresentation of the identified peptides on primary cancer tissueobtained from 18 NHL patients.

The discovery pipeline XPRESIDENT® v2.1 (see, for example, US2013-0096016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety)allows the identification and selection of relevant over-presentedpeptide vaccine candidates based on direct relative quantitation ofHLA-restricted peptide levels on cancer tissues in comparison to severaldifferent non-cancerous tissues and organs. This was achieved by thedevelopment of label-free differential quantitation using the acquiredLC-MS data processed by a proprietary data analysis pipeline, combiningalgorithms for sequence identification, spectral clustering, ioncounting, retention time alignment, charge state deconvolution andnormalization.

Presentation levels including error estimates for each peptide andsample were established. Peptides exclusively presented on tumor tissueand peptides over-presented in tumor versus non-cancerous tissues andorgans have been identified.

HLA-peptide complexes from NHL tissue samples were purified andHLA-associated peptides were isolated and analyzed by LC-MS (seeexamples). All TUMAPs contained in the present application wereidentified with this approach on primary NHL samples confirming theirpresentation on primary NHL.

TUMAPs identified on multiple NHL and normal tissues were quantifiedusing ion-counting of label-free LC-MS data. The method assumes thatLC-MS signal areas of a peptide correlate with its abundance in thesample. All quantitative signals of a peptide in various LC-MSexperiments were normalized based on central tendency, averaged persample and merged into a bar plot, called presentation profile. Thepresentation profile consolidates different analysis methods likeprotein database search, spectral clustering, charge state deconvolution(decharging) and retention time alignment and normalization.

Besides over-presentation of the peptide, mRNA expression of theunderlying gene was tested. mRNA data were obtained via RNASeq analysesof normal tissues and cancer tissues (cf. Example 2, FIGS. 2A-2C). Anadditional source of normal tissue data was a database of publiclyavailable RNA expression data from around 3000 normal tissue samples(Lonsdale, 2013). Peptides which are derived from proteins whose codingmRNA is highly expressed in cancer tissue, but very low or absent invital normal tissues, were preferably included in the present invention.

The present invention provides peptides that are useful in treatingcancers/tumors, preferably NHL that over- or exclusively present thepeptides of the invention. These peptides were shown by massspectrometry to be naturally presented by HLA molecules on primary humanNHL samples.

Many of the source gene/proteins (also designated “full-length proteins”or “underlying proteins”) from which the peptides are derived were shownto be highly over-expressed in cancer compared with normaltissues—“normal tissues” in relation to this invention shall mean eitherhealthy lymph node cells or other normal tissue cells, demonstrating ahigh degree of tumor association of the source genes (see Example 2).Moreover, the peptides themselves are strongly over-presented on tumortissue—“tumor tissue” in relation to this invention shall mean a samplefrom a patient suffering from NHL, but not on normal tissues (seeExample 1).

HLA-bound peptides can be recognized by the immune system, specificallyT lymphocytes. T cells can destroy the cells presenting the recognizedHLA/peptide complex, e.g. NHL cells presenting the derived peptides.

The peptides of the present invention have been shown to be capable ofstimulating T cell responses and/or are over-presented and thus can beused for the production of antibodies and/or TCRs, such as soluble TCRs,according to the present invention (see Example 3, Example 4).Furthermore, the peptides when complexed with the respective MHC can beused for the production of antibodies and/or TCRs, in particular sTCRs,according to the present invention, as well. Respective methods are wellknown to the person of skill, and can be found in the respectiveliterature as well. Thus, the peptides of the present invention areuseful for generating an immune response in a patient by which tumorcells can be destroyed. An immune response in a patient can be inducedby direct administration of the described peptides or suitable precursorsubstances (e.g. elongated peptides, proteins, or nucleic acids encodingthese peptides) to the patient, ideally in combination with an agentenhancing the immunogenicity (i.e. an adjuvant). The immune responseoriginating from such a therapeutic vaccination can be expected to behighly specific against tumor cells because the target peptides of thepresent invention are not presented on normal tissues in comparable copynumbers, preventing the risk of undesired autoimmune reactions againstnormal cells in the patient.

The present description further relates to T-cell receptors (TCRs)comprising an alpha chain and a beta chain (“alpha/beta TCRs”). Alsoprovided are peptides according to the invention capable of binding toTCRs and antibodies when presented by an MHC molecule. The presentdescription also relates to nucleic acids, vectors and host cells forexpressing TCRs and peptides of the present description; and methods ofusing the same.

The term “T-cell receptor” (abbreviated TCR) refers to a heterodimericmolecule comprising an alpha polypeptide chain (alpha chain) and a betapolypeptide chain (beta chain), wherein the heterodimeric receptor iscapable of binding to a peptide antigen presented by an HLA molecule.The term also includes so-called gamma/delta TCRs.

In one embodiment the description provides a method of producing a TCRas described herein, the method comprising culturing a host cell capableof expressing the TCR under conditions suitable to promote expression ofthe TCR.

The description in another aspect relates to methods according to thedescription, wherein the antigen is loaded onto class I or II MHCmolecules expressed on the surface of a suitable antigen-presenting cellor artificial antigen-presenting cell by contacting a sufficient amountof the antigen with an antigen-presenting cell or the antigen is loadedonto class I or II MHC tetramers by tetramerizing the antigen/class I orII MHC complex monomers.

The alpha and beta chains of alpha/beta TCR's, and the gamma and deltachains of gamma/delta TCRs, are generally regarded as each having two“domains”, namely variable and constant domains. The variable domainconsists of a concatenation of variable region (V), and joining region(J). The variable domain may also include a leader region (L). Beta anddelta chains may also include a diversity region (D). The alpha and betaconstant domains may also include C-terminal transmembrane (TM) domainsthat anchor the alpha and beta chains to the cell membrane.

With respect to gamma/delta TCRs, the term “TCR gamma variable domain”as used herein refers to the concatenation of the TCR gamma V (TRGV)region without leader region (L), and the TCR gamma J (TRGJ) region, andthe term TCR gamma constant domain refers to the extracellular TRGCregion, or to a C-terminal truncated TRGC sequence. Likewise the term“TCR delta variable domain” refers to the concatenation of the TCR deltaV (TRDV) region without leader region (L) and the TCR delta D/J(TRDD/TRDJ) region, and the term “TCR delta constant domain” refers tothe extracellular TRDC region, or to a C-terminal truncated TRDCsequence.

TCRs of the present description preferably bind to an peptide-HLAmolecule complex with a binding affinity (KD) of about 100 μM or less,about 50 μM or less, about 25 μM or less, or about 10 μM or less. Morepreferred are high affinity TCRs having binding affinities of about 1 μMor less, about 100 nM or less, about 50 nM or less, about 25 nM or less.Non-limiting examples of preferred binding affinity ranges for TCRs ofthe present invention include about 1 nM to about 10 nM; about 10 nM toabout 20 nM; about 20 nM to about 30 nM; about 30 nM to about 40 nM;about 40 nM to about 50 nM; about 50 nM to about 60 nM; about 60 nM toabout 70 nM; about 70 nM to about 80 nM; about 80 nM to about 90 nM; andabout 90 nM to about 100 nM.

As used herein in connect with TCRs of the present description,“specific binding” and grammatical variants thereof are used to mean aTCR having a binding affinity (KD) for a peptide-HLA molecule complex of100 μM or less.

Alpha/beta heterodimeric TCRs of the present description may have anintroduced disulfide bond between their constant domains. Preferred TCRsof this type include those which have a TRAC constant domain sequenceand a TRBC1 or TRBC2 constant domain sequence except that Thr 48 of TRACand Ser 57 of TRBC1 or TRBC2 are replaced by cysteine residues, the saidcysteines forming a disulfide bond between the TRAC constant domainsequence and the TRBC1 or TRBC2 constant domain sequence of the TCR.

With or without the introduced inter-chain bond mentioned above,alpha/beta heterodimeric TCRs of the present description may have a TRACconstant domain sequence and a TRBC1 or TRBC2 constant domain sequence,and the TRAC constant domain sequence and the TRBC1 or TRBC2 constantdomain sequence of the TCR may be linked by the native disulfide bondbetween Cys4 of exon 2 of TRAC and Cys2 of exon 2 of TRBC1 or TRBC2.

TCRs of the present description may comprise a detectable label selectedfrom the group consisting of a radionuclide, a fluorophore and biotin.TCRs of the present description may be conjugated to a therapeuticallyactive agent, such as a radionuclide, a chemotherapeutic agent, or atoxin.

In an embodiment, a TCR of the present description having at least onemutation in the alpha chain and/or having at least one mutation in thebeta chain has modified glycosylation compared to the unmutated TCR.

In an embodiment, a TCR comprising at least one mutation in the TCRalpha chain and/or TCR beta chain has a binding affinity for, and/or abinding half-life for, a peptide-HLA molecule complex, which is at leastdouble that of a TCR comprising the unmutated TCR alpha chain and/orunmutated TCR beta chain. Affinity-enhancement of tumor-specific TCRs,and its exploitation, relies on the existence of a window for optimalTCR affinities. The existence of such a window is based on observationsthat TCRs specific for HLA-A2-restricted pathogens have KD values thatare generally about 10-fold lower when compared to TCRs specific forHLA-A2-restricted tumor-associated self-antigens. It is now known,although tumor antigens have the potential to be immunogenic, becausetumors arise from the individual's own cells only mutated proteins orproteins with altered translational processing will be seen as foreignby the immune system. Antigens that are upregulated or overexpressed (socalled self-antigens) will not necessarily induce a functional immuneresponse against the tumor: T-cells expressing TCRs that are highlyreactive to these antigens will have been negatively selected within thethymus in a process known as central tolerance, meaning that onlyT-cells with low-affinity TCRs for self-antigens remain. Therefore,affinity of TCRs or variants of the present description to peptides canbe enhanced by methods well known in the art.

The present description further relates to a method of identifying andisolating a TCR according to the present description, said methodcomprising incubating PBMCs from HLA-A*02-negative healthy donors withA2/peptide monomers, incubating the PBMCs with tetramer-phycoerythrin(PE) and isolating the high avidity T-cells by fluo-rescence activatedcell sorting (FACS)—Calibur analysis.

The present description further relates to a method of identifying andisolating a TCR according to the present description, said methodcomprising obtaining a transgenic mouse with the entire human TCRαβ geneloci (1.1 and 0.7 Mb), whose T-cells express a diverse human TCRrepertoire that compensates for mouse TCR deficiency, immunizing themouse with a peptide, incubating PBMCs obtained from the transgenic micewith tetramer-phycoerythrin (PE), and isolating the high avidity T-cellsby fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS)—Calibur analysis.

In one aspect, to obtain T-cells expressing TCRs of the presentdescription, nucleic acids encoding TCR-alpha and/or TCR-beta chains ofthe present description are cloned into expression vectors, such asgamma retrovirus or lentivirus. The recombinant viruses are generatedand then tested for functionality, such as antigen specificity andfunctional avidity. An aliquot of the final product is then used totransduce the target T-cell population (generally purified from patientPBMCs), which is expanded before infusion into the patient.

In another aspect, to obtain T-cells expressing TCRs of the presentdescription, TCR RNAs are synthesized by techniques known in the art,e.g., in vitro transcription sys-tems. The in vitro-synthesized TCR RNAsare then introduced into primary CD8+ T-cells obtained from healthydonors by electroporation to re-express tumor specific TCR-alpha and/orTCR-beta chains.

To increase the expression, nucleic acids encoding TCRs of the presentdescription may be operably linked to strong promoters, such asretroviral long terminal repeats (LTRs), cytomegalovirus (CMV), murinestem cell virus (MSCV) U3, phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), β-actin,ubiquitin, and a simian virus 40 (SV40)/CD43 composite promoter,elongation factor (EF)-1a and the spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV)promoter. In a preferred embodiment, the promoter is heterologous to thenucleic acid being expressed.

In addition to strong promoters, TCR expression cassettes of the presentdescription may contain additional elements that can enhance transgeneexpression, including a central polypurine tract (cPPT), which promotesthe nuclear translocation of lentiviral constructs (Follenzi et al.,2000), and the woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatoryelement (wPRE), which increases the level of transgene expression byincreasing RNA stability (Zufferey et al., 1999).

The alpha and beta chains of a TCR of the present invention may beencoded by nucleic acids located in separate vectors, or may be encodedby polynucleotides located in the same vector.

Achieving high-level TCR surface expression requires that both theTCR-alpha and TCR-beta chains of the introduced TCR be transcribed athigh levels. To do so, the TCR-alpha and TCR-beta chains of the presentdescription may be cloned into bi-cistronic constructs in a singlevector, which has been shown to be capable of over-coming this obstacle.The use of a viral intraribosomal entry site (IRES) between theTCR-alpha and TCR-beta chains results in the coordinated expression ofboth chains, because the TCR-alpha and TCR-beta chains are generatedfrom a single transcript that is broken into two proteins duringtranslation, ensuring that an equal molar ratio of TCR-alpha andTCR-beta chains are produced. (Schmitt et al. 2009).

Nucleic acids encoding TCRs of the present description may be codonoptimized to increase expression from a host cell. Redundancy in thegenetic code allows some amino acids to be encoded by more than onecodon, but certain codons are less “op-timal” than others because of therelative availability of matching tRNAs as well as other factors(Gustafsson et al., 2004). Modifying the TCR-alpha and TCR-beta genesequences such that each amino acid is encoded by the optimal codon formammalian gene expression, as well as eliminating mRNA instabilitymotifs or cryptic splice sites, has been shown to significantly enhanceTCR-alpha and TCR-beta gene expression (Scholten et al., 2006).

Furthermore, mispairing between the introduced and endogenous TCR chainsmay result in the acquisition of specificities that pose a significantrisk for autoimmunity. For example, the formation of mixed TCR dimersmay reduce the number of CD3 molecules available to form properly pairedTCR complexes, and therefore can significantly decrease the functionalavidity of the cells expressing the introduced TCR (Kuball et al.,2007).

To reduce mispairing, the C-terminus domain of the introduced TCR chainsof the present description may be modified in order to promoteinterchain affinity, while de-creasing the ability of the introducedchains to pair with the endogenous TCR. These strategies may includereplacing the human TCR-alpha and TCR-beta C-terminus domains with theirmurine counterparts (murinized C-terminus domain); generating a secondinterchain disulfide bond in the C-terminus domain by introducing asecond cysteine residue into both the TCR-alpha and TCR-beta chains ofthe introduced TCR (cysteine modification); swapping interactingresidues in the TCR-alpha and TCR-beta chain C-terminus domains(“knob-in-hole”); and fusing the variable domains of the TCR-alpha andTCR-beta chains directly to CD3ζ (CD3ζ fusion). (Schmitt et al. 2009).

In an embodiment, a host cell is engineered to express a TCR of thepresent description. In preferred embodiments, the host cell is a humanT-cell or T-cell progenitor. In some embodiments the T-cell or T-cellprogenitor is obtained from a cancer patient. In other embodiments theT-cell or T-cell progenitor is obtained from a healthy donor. Host cellsof the present description can be allogeneic or autologous with respectto a patient to be treated. In one embodiment, the host is a gamma/deltaT-cell transformed to express an alpha/beta TCR.

A “pharmaceutical composition” is a composition suitable foradministration to a human being in a medical setting. Preferably, apharmaceutical composition is sterile and produced according to GMPguidelines.

The pharmaceutical compositions comprise the peptides either in the freeform or in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt (see alsoabove). As used herein, “a pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to aderivative of the disclosed peptides wherein the peptide is modified bymaking acid or base salts of the agent. For example, acid salts areprepared from the free base (typically wherein the neutral form of thedrug has a neutral —NH2 group) involving reaction with a suitable acid.Suitable acids for preparing acid salts include both organic acids,e.g., acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalicacid, malic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaricacid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelicacid, methane sulfonic acid, ethane sulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonicacid, salicylic acid, and the like, as well as inorganic acids, e.g.,hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acidphosphoric acid and the like. Conversely, preparation of basic salts ofacid moieties which may be present on a peptide are prepared using apharmaceutically acceptable base such as sodium hydroxide, potassiumhydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, trimethylamine or thelike.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositionscomprise the peptides as salts of acetic acid (acetates), trifluoroacetates or hydrochloric acid (chlorides).

Preferably, the medicament of the present invention is animmunotherapeutic such as a vaccine. It may be administered directlyinto the patient, into the affected organ or systemically i.d., i.m.,s.c., i.p. and i.v., or applied ex vivo to cells derived from thepatient or a human cell line which are subsequently administered to thepatient, or used in vitro to select a subpopulation of immune cellsderived from the patient, which are then re-administered to the patient.If the nucleic acid is administered to cells in vitro, it may be usefulfor the cells to be transfected so as to co-express immune-stimulatingcytokines, such as interleukin-2. The peptide may be substantially pure,or combined with an immune-stimulating adjuvant (see below) or used incombination with immune-stimulatory cytokines, or be administered with asuitable delivery system, for example liposomes. The peptide may also beconjugated to a suitable carrier such as keyhole limpet haemocyanin(KLH) or mannan (see WO 95/18145 and (Longenecker et al., 1993)). Thepeptide may also be tagged, may be a fusion protein, or may be a hybridmolecule. The peptides whose sequence is given in the present inventionare expected to stimulate CD4 or CD8 T cells. However, stimulation ofCD8 T cells is more efficient in the presence of help provided by CD4T-helper cells. Thus, for MHC Class I epitopes that stimulate CD8 Tcells the fusion partner or sections of a hybrid molecule suitablyprovide epitopes which stimulate CD4-positive T cells. CD4- andCD8-stimulating epitopes are well known in the art and include thoseidentified in the present invention.

In one aspect, the vaccine comprises at least one peptide having theamino acid sequence set forth SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 311, and atleast one additional peptide, preferably two to 50, more preferably twoto 25, even more preferably two to 20 and most preferably two, three,four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen,fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen or eighteen peptides. Thepeptide(s) may be derived from one or more specific TAAs and may bind toMHC class I molecules.

A further aspect of the invention provides a nucleic acid (for example apolynucleotide) encoding a peptide or peptide variant of the invention.The polynucleotide may be, for example, DNA, cDNA, PNA, RNA orcombinations thereof, either single- and/or double-stranded, or nativeor stabilized forms of polynucleotides, such as, for example,polynucleotides with a phosphorothioate backbone and it may or may notcontain introns so long as it codes for the peptide. Of course, onlypeptides that contain naturally occurring amino acid residues joined bynaturally occurring peptide bonds are encodable by a polynucleotide. Astill further aspect of the invention provides an expression vectorcapable of expressing a polypeptide according to the invention.

A variety of methods have been developed to link polynucleotides,especially DNA, to vectors for example via complementary cohesivetermini. For instance, complementary homopolymer tracts can be added tothe DNA segment to be inserted to the vector DNA. The vector and DNAsegment are then joined by hydrogen bonding between the complementaryhomopolymeric tails to form recombinant DNA molecules.

Synthetic linkers containing one or more restriction sites provide analternative method of joining the DNA segment to vectors. Syntheticlinkers containing a variety of restriction endonuclease sites arecommercially available from a number of sources including InternationalBiotechnologies Inc. New Haven, Conn., USA.

A desirable method of modifying the DNA encoding the polypeptide of theinvention employs the polymerase chain reaction as disclosed by Saiki RK, et al. (Saiki et al., 1988). This method may be used for introducingthe DNA into a suitable vector, for example by engineering in suitablerestriction sites, or it may be used to modify the DNA in other usefulways as is known in the art. If viral vectors are used, pox- oradenovirus vectors are preferred.

The DNA (or in the case of retroviral vectors, RNA) may then beexpressed in a suitable host to produce a polypeptide comprising thepeptide or variant of the invention. Thus, the DNA encoding the peptideor variant of the invention may be used in accordance with knowntechniques, appropriately modified in view of the teachings containedherein, to construct an expression vector, which is then used totransform an appropriate host cell for the expression and production ofthe polypeptide of the invention. Such techniques include thosedisclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,440,859, 4,530,901,4,582,800, 4,677,063, 4,678,751, 4,704,362, 4,710,463, 4,757,006,4,766,075, and 4,810,648.

The DNA (or in the case of retroviral vectors, RNA) encoding thepolypeptide constituting the compound of the invention may be joined toa wide variety of other DNA sequences for introduction into anappropriate host. The companion DNA will depend upon the nature of thehost, the manner of the introduction of the DNA into the host, andwhether episomal maintenance or integration is desired.

Generally, the DNA is inserted into an expression vector, such as aplasmid, in proper orientation and correct reading frame for expression.If necessary, the DNA may be linked to the appropriate transcriptionaland translational regulatory control nucleotide sequences recognized bythe desired host, although such controls are generally available in theexpression vector. The vector is then introduced into the host throughstandard techniques. Generally, not all of the hosts will be transformedby the vector. Therefore, it will be necessary to select for transformedhost cells. One selection technique involves incorporating into theexpression vector a DNA sequence, with any necessary control elements,that codes for a selectable trait in the transformed cell, such asantibiotic resistance.

Alternatively, the gene for such selectable trait can be on anothervector, which is used to co-transform the desired host cell.

Host cells that have been transformed by the recombinant DNA of theinvention are then cultured for a sufficient time and under appropriateconditions known to those skilled in the art in view of the teachingsdisclosed herein to permit the expression of the polypeptide, which canthen be recovered.

Many expression systems are known, including bacteria (for example E.coli and Bacillus subtilis), yeasts (for example Saccharomycescerevisiae), filamentous fungi (for example Aspergillus spec.), plantcells, animal cells and insect cells. Preferably, the system can bemammalian cells such as CHO cells available from the ATCC Cell BiologyCollection.

A typical mammalian cell vector plasmid for constitutive expressioncomprises the CMV or SV40 promoter with a suitable poly A tail and aresistance marker, such as neomycin. One example is pSVL available fromPharmacia, Piscataway, N.J., USA. An example of an inducible mammalianexpression vector is pMSG, also available from Pharmacia. Useful yeastplasmid vectors are pRS403-406 and pRS413-416 and are generallyavailable from Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif. 92037, USA.Plasmids pRS403, pRS404, pRS405 and pRS406 are Yeast Integratingplasmids (Ylps) and incorporate the yeast selectable markers HIS3, TRP1,LEU2 and URA3. Plasmids pRS413-416 are Yeast Centromere plasmids (Ycps).CMV promoter-based vectors (for example from Sigma-Aldrich) providetransient or stable expression, cytoplasmic expression or secretion, andN-terminal or C-terminal tagging in various combinations of FLAG,3×FLAG, c-myc or MAT. These fusion proteins allow for detection,purification and analysis of recombinant protein. Dual-tagged fusionsprovide flexibility in detection.

The strong human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter regulatory region drivesconstitutive protein expression levels as high as 1 mg/L in COS cells.For less potent cell lines, protein levels are typically ˜0.1 mg/L. Thepresence of the SV40 replication origin will result in high levels ofDNA replication in SV40 replication permissive COS cells. CMV vectors,for example, can contain the pMB1 (derivative of pBR322) origin forreplication in bacterial cells, the b-lactamase gene for ampicillinresistance selection in bacteria, hGH polyA, and the f1 origin. Vectorscontaining the pre-pro-trypsin leader (PPT) sequence can direct thesecretion of FLAG fusion proteins into the culture medium forpurification using ANTI-FLAG antibodies, resins, and plates. Othervectors and expression systems are well known in the art for use with avariety of host cells.

In another embodiment two or more peptides or peptide variants of theinvention are encoded and thus expressed in a successive order (similarto “beads on a string” constructs). In doing so, the peptides or peptidevariants may be linked or fused together by stretches of linker aminoacids, such as for example LLLLLL, or may be linked without anyadditional peptide(s) between them. These constructs can also be usedfor cancer therapy, and may induce immune responses both involving MHC Iand MHC II.

The present invention also relates to a host cell transformed with apolynucleotide vector construct of the present invention. The host cellcan be either prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Bacterial cells may bepreferred prokaryotic host cells in some circumstances and typically area strain of E. coli such as, for example, the E. coli strains DH5available from Bethesda Research Laboratories Inc., Bethesda, Md., USA,and RR1 available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) ofRockville, Md., USA (No ATCC 31343). Preferred eukaryotic host cellsinclude yeast, insect and mammalian cells, preferably vertebrate cellssuch as those from a mouse, rat, monkey or human fibroblastic and coloncell lines. Yeast host cells include YPH499, YPH500 and YPH501, whichare generally available from Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla,Calif. 92037, USA. Preferred mammalian host cells include Chinesehamster ovary (CHO) cells available from the ATCC as CCL61, NIH Swissmouse embryo cells NIH/3T3 available from the ATCC as CRL 1658, monkeykidney-derived COS-1 cells available from the ATCC as CRL 1650 and 293cells which are human embryonic kidney cells. Preferred insect cells areSf9 cells which can be transfected with baculovirus expression vectors.An overview regarding the choice of suitable host cells for expressioncan be found in, for example, the textbook of Paulina Balbás and ArgeliaLorence “Methods in Molecular Biology Recombinant Gene Expression,Reviews and Protocols,” Part One, Second Edition, ISBN978-1-58829-262-9, and other literature known to the person of skill.

Transformation of appropriate cell hosts with a DNA construct of thepresent invention is accomplished by well-known methods that typicallydepend on the type of vector used. With regard to transformation ofprokaryotic host cells, see, for example, Cohen et al. (Cohen et al.,1972) and (Green and Sambrook, 2012). Transformation of yeast cells isdescribed in Sherman et al. (Sherman et al., 1986). The method of Beggs(Beggs, 1978) is also useful. With regard to vertebrate cells, reagentsuseful in transfecting such cells, for example calcium phosphate andDEAE-dextran or liposome formulations, are available from StratageneCloning Systems, or Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, Md. 20877,USA. Electroporation is also useful for transforming and/or transfectingcells and is well known in the art for transforming yeast cell,bacterial cells, insect cells and vertebrate cells.

Successfully transformed cells, i.e. cells that contain a DNA constructof the present invention, can be identified by well-known techniquessuch as PCR. Alternatively, the presence of the protein in thesupernatant can be detected using antibodies.

It will be appreciated that certain host cells of the invention areuseful in the preparation of the peptides of the invention, for examplebacterial, yeast and insect cells. However, other host cells may beuseful in certain therapeutic methods. For example, antigen-presentingcells, such as dendritic cells, may usefully be used to express thepeptides of the invention such that they may be loaded into appropriateMHC molecules. Thus, the current invention provides a host cellcomprising a nucleic acid or an expression vector according to theinvention.

In a preferred embodiment, the host cell is an antigen presenting cell,in particular a dendritic cell or antigen presenting cell. APCs loadedwith a recombinant fusion protein containing prostatic acid phosphatase(PAP) were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) onApr. 29, 2010, to treat asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastaticHRPC (Sipuleucel-T) (Rini et al., 2006; Small et al., 2006).

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of producing apeptide or its variant, the method comprising culturing a host cell andisolating the peptide from the host cell or its culture medium.

In another embodiment, the peptide, the nucleic acid or the expressionvector of the invention are used in medicine. For example, the peptideor its variant may be prepared for intravenous (i.v.) injection,sub-cutaneous (s.c.) injection, intradermal (i.d.) injection,intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, intramuscular (i.m.) injection.Preferred methods of peptide injection include s.c., i.d., i.p., i.m.,and i.v. Preferred methods of DNA injection include i.d., i.m., s.c.,i.p. and i.v. Doses of e.g. between 50 μg and 1.5 mg, preferably 125 μgto 500 μg, of peptide or DNA may be given and will depend on therespective peptide or DNA. Dosages of this range were successfully usedin previous trials (Walter et al., 2012).

The polynucleotide used for active vaccination may be substantiallypure, or contained in a suitable vector or delivery system. The nucleicacid may be DNA, cDNA, PNA, RNA or a combination thereof. Methods fordesigning and introducing such a nucleic acid are well known in the art.An overview is provided by e.g. Teufel et al. (Teufel et al., 2005).Polynucleotide vaccines are easy to prepare, but the mode of action ofthese vectors in inducing an immune response is not fully understood.Suitable vectors and delivery systems include viral DNA and/or RNA, suchas systems based on adenovirus, vaccinia virus, retroviruses, herpesvirus, adeno-associated virus or hybrids containing elements of morethan one virus. Non-viral delivery systems include cationic lipids andcationic polymers and are well known in the art of DNA delivery.Physical delivery, such as via a “gene-gun” may also be used. Thepeptide or peptides encoded by the nucleic acid may be a fusion protein,for example with an epitope that stimulates T cells for the respectiveopposite CDR as noted above.

The medicament of the invention may also include one or more adjuvants.Adjuvants are substances that non-specifically enhance or potentiate theimmune response (e.g., immune responses mediated by CD8-positive T cellsand helper-T (TH) cells to an antigen, and would thus be considereduseful in the medicament of the present invention. Suitable adjuvantsinclude, but are not limited to, 1018 ISS, aluminum salts, AMPLIVAX®,AS15, BCG, CP-870,893, CpG7909, CyaA, dSLIM, flagellin or TLRS ligandsderived from flagellin, FLT3 ligand, GM-CSF, IC30, IC31, Imiquimod(ALDARA®), resiquimod, ImuFact IMP321, Interleukins as IL-2, IL-13,IL-21, Interferon-alpha or -beta, or pegylated derivatives thereof, ISPatch, ISS, ISCOMATRIX, ISCOMs, JuvImmune®, LipoVac, MALP2, MF59,monophosphoryl lipid A, Montanide IMS 1312, Montanide ISA 206, MontanideISA 50V, Montanide ISA-51, water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions,OK-432, OM-174, OM-197-MP-EC, ONTAK, OspA, PepTel® vector system,poly(lactid co-glycolid) [PLG]-based and dextran microparticles,talactoferrin SRL172, Virosomes and other Virus-like particles, YF-17D,VEGF trap, R848, beta-glucan, Pam3Cys, Aquila's QS21 stimulon, which isderived from saponin, mycobacterial extracts and synthetic bacterialcell wall mimics, and other proprietary adjuvants such as Ribi's Detox,Quil, or Superfos. Adjuvants such as Freund's or GM-CSF are preferred.Several immunological adjuvants (e.g., MF59) specific for dendriticcells and their preparation have been described previously (Allison andKrummel, 1995). Also cytokines may be used. Several cytokines have beendirectly linked to influencing dendritic cell migration to lymphoidtissues (e.g., TNF-), accelerating the maturation of dendritic cellsinto efficient antigen-presenting cells for T-lymphocytes (e.g., GM-CSF,IL-1 and IL-4) (U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,589, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety) and acting as immunoadjuvants(e.g., IL-12, IL-15, IL-23, IL-7, IFN-alpha. IFN-beta) (Gabrilovich etal., 1996).

CpG immunostimulatory oligonucleotides have also been reported toenhance the effects of adjuvants in a vaccine setting. Without beingbound by theory, CpG oligonucleotides act by activating the innate(non-adaptive) immune system via Toll-like receptors (TLR), mainly TLR9.CpG triggered TLR9 activation enhances antigen-specific humoral andcellular responses to a wide variety of antigens, including peptide orprotein antigens, live or killed viruses, dendritic cell vaccines,autologous cellular vaccines and polysaccharide conjugates in bothprophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. More importantly it enhancesdendritic cell maturation and differentiation, resulting in enhancedactivation of TH1 cells and strong cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL)generation, even in the absence of CD4 T cell help. The TH1 bias inducedby TLR9 stimulation is maintained even in the presence of vaccineadjuvants such as alum or incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) thatnormally promote a TH2 bias. CpG oligonucleotides show even greateradjuvant activity when formulated or co-administered with otheradjuvants or in formulations such as microparticles, nanoparticles,lipid emulsions or similar formulations, which are especially necessaryfor inducing a strong response when the antigen is relatively weak. Theyalso accelerate the immune response and enable the antigen doses to bereduced by approximately two orders of magnitude, with comparableantibody responses to the full-dose vaccine without CpG in someexperiments (Krieg, 2006). U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,705 B1 describes thecombined use of CpG oligonucleotides, non-nucleic acid adjuvants and anantigen to induce an antigen-specific immune response. A CpG TLR9antagonist is dSLIM (double Stem Loop Immunomodulator) by Mologen(Berlin, Germany) which is a preferred component of the pharmaceuticalcomposition of the present invention. Other TLR binding molecules suchas RNA binding TLR 7, TLR 8 and/or TLR 9 may also be used.

Other examples for useful adjuvants include, but are not limited tochemically modified CpGs (e.g. CpR, Idera), dsRNA analogues such asPoly(I:C) and derivates thereof (e.g. AmpliGen®, Hiltonol®, poly-(ICLC),poly(IC-R), poly(I:C12U), non-CpG bacterial DNA or RNA as well asimmunoactive small molecules and antibodies such as cyclophosphamide,sunitinib, Bevacizumab®, celebrex, NCX-4016, sildenafil, tadalafil,vardenafil, sorafenib, temozolomide, temsirolimus, XL-999, CP-547632,pazopanib, VEGF Trap, ZD2171, AZD2171, anti-CTLA4, other antibodiestargeting key structures of the immune system (e.g. anti-CD40,anti-TGFbeta, anti-TNFalpha receptor) and SC58175, which may acttherapeutically and/or as an adjuvant. The amounts and concentrations ofadjuvants and additives useful in the context of the present inventioncan readily be determined by the skilled artisan without undueexperimentation.

Preferred adjuvants are anti-CD40, imiquimod, resiquimod, GM-CSF,cyclophosphamide, sunitinib, bevacizumab, interferon-alpha, CpGoligonucleotides and derivates, poly-(I:C) and derivates, RNA,sildenafil, and particulate formulations with PLG or virosomes.

In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition according tothe invention the adjuvant is selected from the group consisting ofcolony-stimulating factors, such as Granulocyte Macrophage ColonyStimulating Factor (GM-CSF, sargramostim), cyclophosphamide, imiquimod,resiquimod, and interferon-alpha.

In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition according tothe invention the adjuvant is selected from the group consisting ofcolony-stimulating factors, such as Granulocyte Macrophage ColonyStimulating Factor (GM-CSF, sargramostim), cyclophosphamide, imiquimodand resiquimod. In a preferred embodiment of the pharmaceuticalcomposition according to the invention, the adjuvant iscyclophosphamide, imiquimod or resiquimod. Even more preferred adjuvantsare Montanide IMS 1312, Montanide ISA 206, Montanide ISA 50V, MontanideISA-51, poly-ICLC (Hiltonol®) and anti-CD40 mAB, or combinationsthereof.

This composition is used for parenteral administration, such assubcutaneous, intradermal, intramuscular or oral administration. Forthis, the peptides and optionally other molecules are dissolved orsuspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable, preferably aqueous carrier.

In addition, the composition can contain excipients, such as buffers,binding agents, blasting agents, diluents, flavors, lubricants, etc. Thepeptides can also be administered together with immune stimulatingsubstances, such as cytokines. An extensive listing of excipients thatcan be used in such a composition, can be, for example, taken from A.Kibbe, Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients (Kibbe, 2000). Thecomposition can be used for a prevention, prophylaxis and/or therapy ofadenomatous or cancerous diseases. Exemplary formulations can be foundin, for example, EP2112253.

It is important to realize that the immune response triggered by thevaccine according to the invention attacks the cancer in differentcell-stages and different stages of development. Furthermore, differentcancer associated signaling pathways are attacked. This is an advantageover vaccines that address only one or few targets, which may cause thetumor to easily adapt to the attack (tumor escape). Furthermore, not allindividual tumors express the same pattern of antigens. Therefore, acombination of several tumor-associated peptides ensures that everysingle tumor bears at least some of the targets. The composition isdesigned in such a way that each tumor is expected to express several ofthe antigens and cover several independent pathways necessary for tumorgrowth and maintenance. Thus, the vaccine can easily be used“off-the-shelf” for a larger patient population. This means that apre-selection of patients to be treated with the vaccine can berestricted to HLA typing, does not require any additional biomarkerassessments for antigen expression, but it is still ensured that severaltargets are simultaneously attacked by the induced immune response,which is important for efficacy (Banchereau et al., 2001; Walter et al.,2012).

As used herein, the term “scaffold” refers to a molecule thatspecifically binds to an (e.g. antigenic) determinant. In oneembodiment, a scaffold is able to direct the entity to which it isattached (e.g. a (second) antigen binding moiety) to a target site, forexample to a specific type of tumor cell or tumor stroma bearing theantigenic determinant (e.g. the complex of a peptide with MHC, accordingto the application at hand). In another embodiment a scaffold is able toactivate signaling through its target antigen, for example a T cellreceptor complex antigen. Scaffolds include but are not limited toantibodies and fragments thereof, antigen binding domains of anantibody, comprising an antibody heavy chain variable region and anantibody light chain variable region, binding proteins comprising atleast one Ankyrin repeat motif and single domain antigen binding (SDAB)molecules, aptamers, (soluble) TCRs and (modified) cells such asallogenic or autologous T cells. To assess whether a molecule is ascaffold binding to a target, binding assays can be performed.

“Specific” binding means that the scaffold binds the peptide-MHC-complexof interest better than other naturally occurring peptide-MHC-complexes,to an extent that a scaffold armed with an active molecule that is ableto kill a cell bearing the specific target is not able to kill anothercell without the specific target but presenting other peptide-MHCcomplex(es). Binding to other peptide-MHC complexes is irrelevant if thepeptide of the cross-reactive peptide-MHC is not naturally occurring,i.e. not derived from the human HLA-peptidome. Tests to assess targetcell killing are well known in the art. They should be performed usingtarget cells (primary cells or cell lines) with unaltered peptide-MHCpresentation, or cells loaded with peptides such that naturallyoccurring peptide-MHC levels are reached.

Each scaffold can comprise a labelling which provides that the boundscaffold can be detected by determining the presence or absence of asignal provided by the label. For example, the scaffold can be labelledwith a fluorescent dye or any other applicable cellular marker molecule.Such marker molecules are well known in the art. For example, afluorescence-labelling, for example provided by a fluorescence dye, canprovide a visualization of the bound aptamer by fluorescence or laserscanning microscopy or flow cytometry. Each scaffold can be conjugatedwith a second active molecule such as for example IL-21, anti-CD3, andanti-CD28. For further information on polypeptide scaffolds see forexample the background section of WO 2014/071978A1 and the referencescited therein.

The present invention further relates to aptamers. Aptamers (see forexample WO 2014/191359 and the literature as cited therein) are shortsingle-stranded nucleic acid molecules, which can fold into definedthree-dimensional structures and recognize specific target structures.They have appeared to be suitable alternatives for developing targetedtherapies. Aptamers have been shown to selectively bind to a variety ofcomplex targets with high affinity and specificity.

Aptamers recognizing cell surface located molecules have been identifiedwithin the past decade and provide means for developing diagnostic andtherapeutic approaches. Since aptamers have been shown to possess almostno toxicity and immunogenicity they are promising candidates forbiomedical applications. Indeed aptamers, for example prostate-specificmembrane-antigen recognizing aptamers, have been successfully employedfor targeted therapies and shown to be functional in xenograft in vivomodels. Furthermore, aptamers recognizing specific tumor cell lines havebeen identified.

DNA aptamers can be selected to reveal broad-spectrum recognitionproperties for various cancer cells, and particularly those derived fromsolid tumors, while non-tumorigenic and primary healthy cells are notrecognized. If the identified aptamers recognize not only a specifictumor sub-type but rather interact with a series of tumors, this rendersthe aptamers applicable as so-called broad-spectrum diagnostics andtherapeutics.

Further, investigation of cell-binding behavior with flow cytometryshowed that the aptamers revealed very good apparent affinities that arewithin the nanomolar range.

Aptamers are useful for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Further, itcould be shown that some of the aptamers are taken up by tumor cells andthus can function as molecular vehicles for the targeted delivery ofanti-cancer agents such as siRNA into tumor cells.

Aptamers can be selected against complex targets such as cells andtissues and complexes of the peptides comprising, preferably consistingof, a sequence according to any of SEQ ID NO 1 to SEQ ID NO 311,according to the present invention with the MHC molecule, using thecell-SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment)technique.

The peptides of the present invention can be used to generate anddevelop specific antibodies against MHC/peptide complexes. These can beused for therapy, targeting toxins or radioactive substances to thediseased tissue. Another use of these antibodies can be targetingradionuclides to the diseased tissue for imaging purposes such as PET.This use can help to detect small metastases or to determine the sizeand precise localization of diseased tissues.

Therefore, it is a further aspect of the invention to provide a methodfor producing a recombinant antibody specifically binding to a humanmajor histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II being complexedwith a HLA-restricted antigen, the method comprising: immunizing agenetically engineered non-human mammal comprising cells expressing saidhuman major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II with asoluble form of a MHC class I or II molecule being complexed with saidHLA-restricted antigen; isolating mRNA molecules from antibody producingcells of said non-human mammal; producing a phage display librarydisplaying protein molecules encoded by said mRNA molecules; andisolating at least one phage from said phage display library, said atleast one phage displaying said antibody specifically binding to saidhuman major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II beingcomplexed with said HLA-restricted antigen.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide an antibody thatspecifically binds to a human major histocompatibility complex (MHC)class I or II being complexed with a HLA-restricted antigen, wherein theantibody preferably is a polyclonal antibody, monoclonal antibody,bi-specific antibody and/or a chimeric antibody.

Respective methods for producing such antibodies and single chain classI major histocompatibility complexes, as well as other tools for theproduction of these antibodies are disclosed in WO 03/068201, WO2004/084798, WO 01/72768, WO 03/070752, and in publications (Cohen etal., 2003a; Cohen et al., 2003b; Denkberg et al., 2003), which for thepurposes of the present invention are all explicitly incorporated byreference in their entireties.

Preferably, the antibody is binding with a binding affinity of below 20nanomolar, preferably of below 10 nanomolar, to the complex, which isalso regarded as “specific” in the context of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a peptide comprising a sequence that isselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311, ora variant thereof which is at least 88% homologous (preferablyidentical) to SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311 or a variant thereof thatinduces T cells cross-reacting with said peptide, wherein said peptideis not the underlying full-length polypeptide.

The present invention further relates to a peptide comprising a sequencethat is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO:311 or a variant thereof which is at least 88% homologous (preferablyidentical) to SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311, wherein said peptide orvariant has an overall length of between 8 and 100, preferably between 8and 30, and most preferred between 8 and 14 amino acids.

The present invention further relates to the peptides according to theinvention that have the ability to bind to a molecule of the human majorhistocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I or -II.

The present invention further relates to the peptides according to theinvention wherein the peptide consists or consists essentially of anamino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311.

The present invention further relates to the peptides according to theinvention, wherein the peptide is (chemically) modified and/or includesnon-peptide bonds.

The present invention further relates to the peptides according to theinvention, wherein the peptide is part of a fusion protein, inparticular comprising N-terminal amino acids of the HLA-DRantigen-associated invariant chain (Ii), or wherein the peptide is fusedto (or into) an antibody, such as, for example, an antibody that isspecific for dendritic cells.

The present invention further relates to a nucleic acid, encoding thepeptides according to the invention, provided that the peptide is notthe complete (full) human protein.

The present invention further relates to the nucleic acid according tothe invention that is DNA, cDNA, PNA, RNA or combinations thereof.

The present invention further relates to an expression vector capable ofexpressing a nucleic acid according to the present invention.

The present invention further relates to a peptide according to thepresent invention, a nucleic acid according to the present invention oran expression vector according to the present invention for use inmedicine, in particular in the treatment of NHL.

The present invention further relates to a host cell comprising anucleic acid according to the invention or an expression vectoraccording to the invention.

The present invention further relates to the host cell according to thepresent invention that is an antigen presenting cell, and preferably adendritic cell.

The present invention further relates to a method of producing a peptideaccording to the present invention, said method comprising culturing thehost cell according to the present invention, and isolating the peptidefrom said host cell or its culture medium.

The present invention further relates to the method according to thepresent invention, where-in the antigen is loaded onto class I or II MHCmolecules expressed on the surface of a suitable antigen-presenting cellby contacting a sufficient amount of the antigen with anantigen-presenting cell.

The present invention further relates to the method according to theinvention, wherein the antigen-presenting cell comprises an expressionvector capable of expressing said peptide containing SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQID NO: 311 or said variant amino acid sequence.

The present invention further relates to activated T cells, produced bythe method according to the present invention, wherein said T cellsselectively recognizes a cell which aberrantly expresses a polypeptidecomprising an amino acid sequence according to the present invention.

The present invention further relates to a method of killing targetcells in a patient which target cells aberrantly express a polypeptidecomprising any amino acid sequence according to the present invention,the method comprising administering to the patient an effective numberof T cells as according to the present invention.

The present invention further relates to the use of any peptidedescribed, a nucleic acid according to the present invention, anexpression vector according to the present invention, a cell accordingto the present invention, or an activated cytotoxic T lymphocyteaccording to the present invention as a medicament or in the manufactureof a medicament. The present invention further relates to a useaccording to the present invention, wherein the medicament is activeagainst cancer.

The present invention further relates to a use according to theinvention, wherein the medicament is a vaccine. The present inventionfurther relates to a use according to the invention, wherein themedicament is active against cancer.

The present invention further relates to a use according to theinvention, wherein said cancer cells are NHL cells or other solid orhematological tumor cells such as non-small cell lung cancer, small celllung cancer, renal cell cancer, brain cancer, gastric cancer, colorectalcancer, hepatocellular cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, breastcancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, urinary bladder cancer, uterinecancer, gallbladder and bile duct cancer.

The present invention further relates to particular marker proteins andbiomarkers based on the peptides according to the present invention,herein called “targets” that can be used in the diagnosis and/orprognosis of NHL. The present invention also relates to the use of thesenovel targets for cancer treatment.

The term “antibody” or “antibodies” is used herein in a broad sense andincludes both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. In addition tointact or “full” immunoglobulin molecules, also included in the term“antibodies” are fragments (e.g. CDRs, Fv, Fab and Fc fragments) orpolymers of those immunoglobulin molecules and humanized versions ofimmunoglobulin molecules, as long as they exhibit any of the desiredproperties (e.g., specific binding of a NHL marker (poly)peptide,delivery of a toxin to a NHL cell expressing a cancer marker gene at anincreased level, and/or inhibiting the activity of a NHL markerpolypeptide) according to the invention.

Whenever possible, the antibodies of the invention may be purchased fromcommercial sources. The antibodies of the invention may also begenerated using well-known methods. The skilled artisan will understandthat either full length NHL marker polypeptides or fragments thereof maybe used to generate the antibodies of the invention. A polypeptide to beused for generating an antibody of the invention may be partially orfully purified from a natural source, or may be produced usingrecombinant DNA techniques.

For example, a cDNA encoding a peptide according to the presentinvention, such as a peptide according to SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311polypeptide, or a variant or fragment thereof, can be expressed inprokaryotic cells (e.g., bacteria) or eukaryotic cells (e.g., yeast,insect, or mammalian cells), after which the recombinant protein can bepurified and used to generate a monoclonal or polyclonal antibodypreparation that specifically bind the NHL marker polypeptide used togenerate the antibody according to the invention.

One of skill in the art will realize that the generation of two or moredifferent sets of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies maximizes thelikelihood of obtaining an antibody with the specificity and affinityrequired for its intended use (e.g., ELISA, immunohistochemistry, invivo imaging, immunotoxin therapy). The antibodies are tested for theirdesired activity by known methods, in accordance with the purpose forwhich the antibodies are to be used (e.g., ELISA, immunohistochemistry,immunotherapy, etc.; for further guidance on the generation and testingof antibodies, see, e.g., Greenfield, 2014 (Greenfield, 2014)). Forexample, the antibodies may be tested in ELISA assays or, Western blots,immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed cancers or frozen tissuesections. After their initial in vitro characterization, antibodiesintended for therapeutic or in vivo diagnostic use are tested accordingto known clinical testing methods.

The term “monoclonal antibody” as used herein refers to an antibodyobtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies,i.e.; the individual antibodies comprising the population are identicalexcept for possible naturally occurring mutations that may be present inminor amounts. The monoclonal antibodies herein specifically include“chimeric” antibodies in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chainis identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodiesderived from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibodyclass or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical withor homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived fromanother species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, aswell as fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit thedesired antagonistic activity (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567, which is herebyincorporated in its entirety).

Monoclonal antibodies of the invention may be prepared using hybridomamethods. In a hybridoma method, a mouse or other appropriate host animalis typically immunized with an immunizing agent to elicit lymphocytesthat produce or are capable of producing antibodies that willspecifically bind to the immunizing agent. Alternatively, thelymphocytes may be immunized in vitro.

The monoclonal antibodies may also be made by recombinant DNA methods,such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567. DNA encoding themonoclonal antibodies of the invention can be readily isolated andsequenced using conventional procedures (e.g., by using oligonucleotideprobes that are capable of binding specifically to genes encoding theheavy and light chains of murine antibodies).

In vitro methods are also suitable for preparing monovalent antibodies.Digestion of antibodies to produce fragments thereof, particularly Fabfragments, can be accomplished using routine techniques known in theart. For instance, digestion can be performed using papain. Examples ofpapain digestion are described in WO 94/29348 and U.S. Pat. No.4,342,566. Papain digestion of antibodies typically produces twoidentical antigen binding fragments, called Fab fragments, each with asingle antigen binding site, and a residual Fc fragment. Pepsintreatment yields a F(ab′)2 fragment and a pFc′ fragment.

The antibody fragments, whether attached to other sequences or not, canalso include insertions, deletions, substitutions, or other selectedmodifications of particular regions or specific amino acids residues,provided the activity of the fragment is not significantly altered orimpaired compared to the non-modified antibody or antibody fragment.These modifications can provide for some additional property, such as toremove/add amino acids capable of disulfide bonding, to increase itsbio-longevity, to alter its secretory characteristics, etc. In any case,the antibody fragment must possess a bioactive property, such as bindingactivity, regulation of binding at the binding domain, etc. Functionalor active regions of the antibody may be identified by mutagenesis of aspecific region of the protein, followed by expression and testing ofthe expressed polypeptide. Such methods are readily apparent to askilled practitioner in the art and can include site-specificmutagenesis of the nucleic acid encoding the antibody fragment.

The antibodies of the invention may further comprise humanizedantibodies or human antibodies. Humanized forms of non-human (e.g.,murine) antibodies are chimeric immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin chainsor fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab, Fab′ or other antigen-bindingsubsequences of antibodies) which contain minimal sequence derived fromnon-human immunoglobulin. Humanized antibodies include humanimmunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residues from acomplementary determining region (CDR) of the recipient are replaced byresidues from a CDR of a non-human species (donor antibody) such asmouse, rat or rabbit having the desired specificity, affinity andcapacity. In some instances, Fv framework (FR) residues of the humanimmunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues.Humanized antibodies may also comprise residues which are found neitherin the recipient antibody nor in the imported CDR or frameworksequences. In general, the humanized antibody will comprisesubstantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains,in which all or substantially all of the CDR regions correspond to thoseof a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FRregions are those of a human immunoglobulin consensus sequence. Thehumanized antibody optimally also will comprise at least a portion of animmunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a humanimmunoglobulin.

Methods for humanizing non-human antibodies are well known in the art.Generally, a humanized antibody has one or more amino acid residuesintroduced into it from a source which is non-human. These non-humanamino acid residues are often referred to as “import” residues, whichare typically taken from an “import” variable domain. Humanization canbe essentially performed by substituting rodent CDRs or CDR sequencesfor the corresponding sequences of a human antibody. Accordingly, such“humanized” antibodies are chimeric antibodies (U.S. Pat. No.4,816,567), wherein substantially less than an intact human variabledomain has been substituted by the corresponding sequence from anon-human species. In practice, humanized antibodies are typically humanantibodies in which some CDR residues and possibly some FR residues aresubstituted by residues from analogous sites in rodent antibodies.

Transgenic animals (e.g., mice) that are capable, upon immunization, ofproducing a full repertoire of human antibodies in the absence ofendogenous immunoglobulin production can be employed. For example, ithas been described that the homozygous deletion of the antibody heavychain joining region gene in chimeric and germ-line mutant mice resultsin complete inhibition of endogenous antibody production. Transfer ofthe human germ-line immunoglobulin gene array in such germ-line mutantmice will result in the production of human antibodies upon antigenchallenge. Human antibodies can also be produced in phage displaylibraries.

Antibodies of the invention are preferably administered to a subject ina pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Typically, an appropriate amountof a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt is used in the formulation torender the formulation isotonic. Examples of thepharmaceutically-acceptable carrier include saline, Ringer's solutionand dextrose solution. The pH of the solution is preferably from about 5to about 8, and more preferably from about 7 to about 7.5. Furthercarriers include sustained release preparations such as semipermeablematrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the antibody, whichmatrices are in the form of shaped articles, e.g., films, liposomes ormicroparticles. It will be apparent to those persons skilled in the artthat certain carriers may be more preferable depending upon, forinstance, the route of administration and concentration of antibodybeing administered.

The antibodies can be administered to the subject, patient, or cell byinjection (e.g., intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous,intramuscular), or by other methods such as infusion that ensure itsdelivery to the bloodstream in an effective form. The antibodies mayalso be administered by intratumoral or peritumoral routes, to exertlocal as well as systemic therapeutic effects. Local or intravenousinjection is preferred.

Effective dosages and schedules for administering the antibodies may bedetermined empirically, and making such determinations is within theskill in the art. Those skilled in the art will understand that thedosage of antibodies that must be administered will vary depending on,for example, the subject that will receive the antibody, the route ofadministration, the particular type of antibody used and other drugsbeing administered. A typical daily dosage of the antibody used alonemight range from about 1 (μg/kg to up to 100 mg/kg of body weight ormore per day, depending on the factors mentioned above. Followingadministration of an antibody, preferably for treating NHL, the efficacyof the therapeutic antibody can be assessed in various ways well knownto the skilled practitioner.

For instance, the size, number, and/or distribution of cancer in asubject receiving treatment may be monitored using standard tumorimaging techniques. A therapeutically-administered antibody that arreststumor growth, results in tumor shrinkage, and/or prevents thedevelopment of new tumors, compared to the disease course that wouldoccurs in the absence of antibody administration, is an efficaciousantibody for treatment of cancer.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a method forproducing a soluble T-cell receptor (sTCR) recognizing a specificpeptide-MHC complex. Such soluble T-cell receptors can be generated fromspecific T-cell clones, and their affinity can be increased bymutagenesis targeting the complementarity-determining regions. For thepurpose of T-cell receptor selection, phage display can be used (US2010/0113300, (Liddy et al., 2012)). For the purpose of stabilization ofT-cell receptors during phage display and in case of practical use asdrug, alpha and beta chain can be linked e.g. by non-native disulfidebonds, other covalent bonds (single-chain T-cell receptor), or bydimerization domains (Boulter et al., 2003; Card et al., 2004; Willcoxet al., 1999). The T-cell receptor can be linked to toxins, drugs,cytokines (see, for example, US 2013/0115191), and domains recruitingeffector cells such as an anti-CD3 domain, etc., in order to executeparticular functions on target cells. Moreover, it could be expressed inT cells used for adoptive transfer. Further information can be found inWO 2004/033685A1 and WO 2004/074322A1. A combination of sTCRs isdescribed in WO 2012/056407A1. Additional methods for the production aredisclosed in WO 2013/057586A1.

In addition, the peptides and/or the TCRs or antibodies or other bindingmolecules of the present invention can be used to verify a pathologist'sdiagnosis of a cancer based on a biopsied sample.

The antibodies or TCRs may also be used for in vivo diagnostic assays.Generally, the antibody is labeled with a radionucleotide (such as¹¹¹In, ⁹⁹Tc, ¹⁴C, ¹³¹I, ³H, ³²P or ³⁵S)) so that the tumor can belocalized using immunoscintiography. In one embodiment, antibodies orfragments thereof bind to the extracellular domains of two or moretargets of a protein selected from the group consisting of theabove-mentioned proteins, and the affinity value (Kd) is less than 1×10μM.

Antibodies for diagnostic use may be labeled with probes suitable fordetection by various imaging methods. Methods for detection of probesinclude, but are not limited to, fluorescence, light, confocal andelectron microscopy; magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy;fluoroscopy, computed tomography and positron emission tomography.Suitable probes include, but are not limited to, fluorescein, rhodamine,eosin and other fluorophores, radioisotopes, gold, gadolinium and otherlanthanides, paramagnetic iron, fluorine-18 and other positron-emittingradionuclides. Additionally, probes may be bi- or multi-functional andbe detectable by more than one of the methods listed. These antibodiesmay be directly or indirectly labeled with said probes. Attachment ofprobes to the antibodies includes covalent attachment of the probe,incorporation of the probe into the antibody, and the covalentattachment of a chelating compound for binding of probe, amongst otherswell recognized in the art. For immunohistochemistry, the disease tissuesample may be fresh or frozen or may be embedded in paraffin and fixedwith a preservative such as formalin. The fixed or embedded sectioncontains the sample are contacted with a labeled primary antibody andsecondary antibody, wherein the antibody is used to detect theexpression of the proteins in situ.

Another aspect of the present invention includes an in vitro method forproducing activated T cells, the method comprising contacting in vitro Tcells with antigen loaded human MHC molecules expressed on the surfaceof a suitable antigen-presenting cell for a period of time sufficient toactivate the T cell in an antigen specific manner, wherein the antigenis a peptide according to the invention. Preferably a sufficient amountof the antigen is used with an antigen-presenting cell.

Preferably the mammalian cell lacks or has a reduced level or functionof the TAP peptide transporter. Suitable cells that lack the TAP peptidetransporter include T2, RMA-S and Drosophila cells. TAP is thetransporter associated with antigen processing.

The human peptide loading deficient cell line T2 is available from theAmerican Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md.20852, USA under Catalogue No CRL 1992; the Drosophila cell lineSchneider line 2 is available from the ATCC under Catalogue No CRL19863; the mouse RMA-S cell line is described in Ljunggren et al.(Ljunggren and Karre, 1985).

Preferably, before transfection the host cell expresses substantially noMHC class I molecules. It is also preferred that the stimulator cellexpresses a molecule important for providing a co-stimulatory signal forT-cells such as any of B7.1, B7.2, ICAM-1 and LFA 3. The nucleic acidsequences of numerous MHC class I molecules and of the co-stimulatormolecules are publicly available from the GenBank and EMBL databases.

In case of a MHC class I epitope being used as an antigen, the T cellsare CD8-positive T cells.

If an antigen-presenting cell is transfected to express such an epitope,preferably the cell comprises an expression vector capable of expressinga peptide containing SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 311, or a variant aminoacid sequence thereof.

A number of other methods may be used for generating T cells in vitro.For example, autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes can be used inthe generation of CTL. Plebanski et al. (Plebanski et al., 1995) madeuse of autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (PLBs) in the preparationof T cells. Furthermore, the production of autologous T cells by pulsingdendritic cells with peptide or polypeptide, or via infection withrecombinant virus is possible. Also, B cells can be used in theproduction of autologous T cells. In addition, macrophages pulsed withpeptide or polypeptide, or infected with recombinant virus, may be usedin the preparation of autologous T cells. S. Walter et al. (Walter etal., 2003) describe the in vitro priming of T cells by using artificialantigen presenting cells (aAPCs), which is also a suitable way forgenerating T cells against the peptide of choice. In the presentinvention, aAPCs were generated by the coupling of preformed MHC:peptidecomplexes to the surface of polystyrene particles (microbeads) bybiotin:streptavidin biochemistry. This system permits the exact controlof the MHC density on aAPCs, which allows to selectively eliciting high-or low-avidity antigen-specific T cell responses with high efficiencyfrom blood samples. Apart from MHC:peptide complexes, aAPCs should carryother proteins with co-stimulatory activity like anti-CD28 antibodiescoupled to their surface. Furthermore, such aAPC-based systems oftenrequire the addition of appropriate soluble factors, e. g. cytokines,like interleukin-12.

Allogeneic cells may also be used in the preparation of T cells and amethod is described in detail in WO 97/26328, incorporated herein byreference. For example, in addition to Drosophila cells and T2 cells,other cells may be used to present antigens such as CHO cells,baculovirus-infected insect cells, bacteria, yeast, andvaccinia-infected target cells. In addition plant viruses may be used(see, for example, Porta et al. (Porta et al., 1994) which describes thedevelopment of cowpea mosaic virus as a high-yielding system for thepresentation of foreign peptides.

The activated T cells that are directed against the peptides of theinvention are useful in therapy. Thus, a further aspect of the inventionprovides activated T cells obtainable by the foregoing methods of theinvention.

Activated T cells, which are produced by the above method, willselectively recognize a cell that aberrantly expresses a polypeptidethat comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO 311.

Preferably, the T cell recognizes the cell by interacting through itsTCR with the HLA/peptide-complex (for example, binding). The T cells areuseful in a method of killing target cells in a patient whose targetcells aberrantly express a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequenceof the invention wherein the patient is administered an effective numberof the activated T cells. The T cells that are administered to thepatient may be derived from the patient and activated as described above(i.e. they are autologous T cells). Alternatively, the T cells are notfrom the patient but are from another individual. Of course, it ispreferred if the individual is a healthy individual. By “healthyindividual” the inventors mean that the individual is generally in goodhealth, preferably has a competent immune system and, more preferably,is not suffering from any disease that can be readily tested for, anddetected.

In vivo, the target cells for the CD8-positive T cells according to thepresent invention can be cells of the tumor (which sometimes express MHCclass II) and/or stromal cells surrounding the tumor (tumor cells)(which sometimes also express MHC class II; (Dengjel et al., 2006)).

The T cells of the present invention may be used as active ingredientsof a therapeutic composition. Thus, the invention also provides a methodof killing target cells in a patient whose target cells aberrantlyexpress a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of theinvention, the method comprising administering to the patient aneffective number of T cells as defined above.

By “aberrantly expressed” the inventors also mean that the polypeptideis over-expressed compared to levels of expression in normal tissues orthat the gene is silent in the tissue from which the tumor is derivedbut in the tumor it is expressed. By “over-expressed” the inventors meanthat the polypeptide is present at a level at least 1.2-fold of thatpresent in normal tissue; preferably at least 2-fold, and morepreferably at least 5-fold or 10-fold the level present in normaltissue.

T cells may be obtained by methods known in the art, e.g. thosedescribed above.

Protocols for this so-called adoptive transfer of T cells are well knownin the art. Reviews can be found in: Gattioni et al. and Morgan et al.(Gattinoni et al., 2006; Morgan et al., 2006).

Another aspect of the present invention includes the use of the peptidescomplexed with MHC to generate a T-cell receptor whose nucleic acid iscloned and is introduced into a host cell, preferably a T cell. Thisengineered T cell can then be transferred to a patient for therapy ofcancer.

Any molecule of the invention, i.e. the peptide, nucleic acid, antibody,expression vector, cell, activated T cell, T-cell receptor or thenucleic acid encoding it, is useful for the treatment of disorders,characterized by cells escaping an immune response. Therefore, anymolecule of the present invention may be used as medicament or in themanufacture of a medicament. The molecule may be used by itself orcombined with other molecule(s) of the invention or (a) knownmolecule(s).

The present invention is further directed at a kit comprising:

(a) a container containing a pharmaceutical composition as describedabove, in solution or in lyophilized form;(b) optionally a second container containing a diluent or reconstitutingsolution for the lyophilized formulation; and(c) optionally, instructions for (i) use of the solution or (ii)reconstitution and/or use of the lyophilized formulation.

The kit may further comprise one or more of (iii) a buffer, (iv) adiluent, (v) a filter, (vi) a needle, or (v) a syringe. The container ispreferably a bottle, a vial, a syringe or test tube; and it may be amulti-use container. The pharmaceutical composition is preferablylyophilized.

Kits of the present invention preferably comprise a lyophilizedformulation of the present invention in a suitable container andinstructions for its reconstitution and/or use. Suitable containersinclude, for example, bottles, vials (e.g. dual chamber vials), syringes(such as dual chamber syringes) and test tubes. The container may beformed from a variety of materials such as glass or plastic. Preferablythe kit and/or container contain/s instructions on or associated withthe container that indicates directions for reconstitution and/or use.For example, the label may indicate that the lyophilized formulation isto be reconstituted to peptide concentrations as described above. Thelabel may further indicate that the formulation is useful or intendedfor subcutaneous administration.

The container holding the formulation may be a multi-use vial, whichallows for repeat administrations (e.g., from 2-6 administrations) ofthe reconstituted formulation. The kit may further comprise a secondcontainer comprising a suitable diluent (e.g., sodium bicarbonatesolution).

Upon mixing of the diluent and the lyophilized formulation, the finalpeptide concentration in the reconstituted formulation is preferably atleast 0.15 mg/mL/peptide (=75 μg) and preferably not more than 3mg/mL/peptide (=1500 μg). The kit may further include other materialsdesirable from a commercial and user standpoint, including otherbuffers, diluents, filters, needles, syringes, and package inserts withinstructions for use.

Kits of the present invention may have a single container that containsthe formulation of the pharmaceutical compositions according to thepresent invention with or without other components (e.g., othercompounds or pharmaceutical compositions of these other compounds) ormay have distinct container for each component.

Preferably, kits of the invention include a formulation of the inventionpackaged for use in combination with the co-administration of a secondcompound (such as adjuvants (e.g. GM-CSF), a chemotherapeutic agent, anatural product, a hormone or antagonist, an anti-angiogenesis agent orinhibitor, an apoptosis-inducing agent or a chelator) or apharmaceutical composition thereof. The components of the kit may bepre-complexed or each component may be in a separate distinct containerprior to administration to a patient. The components of the kit may beprovided in one or more liquid solutions, preferably, an aqueoussolution, more preferably, a sterile aqueous solution. The components ofthe kit may also be provided as solids, which may be converted intoliquids by addition of suitable solvents, which are preferably providedin another distinct container.

The container of a therapeutic kit may be a vial, test tube, flask,bottle, syringe, or any other means of enclosing a solid or liquid.Usually, when there is more than one component, the kit will contain asecond vial or other container, which allows for separate dosing. Thekit may also contain another container for a pharmaceutically acceptableliquid. Preferably, a therapeutic kit will contain an apparatus (e.g.,one or more needles, syringes, eye droppers, pipette, etc.), whichenables administration of the agents of the invention that arecomponents of the present kit.

The present formulation is one that is suitable for administration ofthe peptides by any acceptable route such as oral (enteral), nasal,ophthal, subcutaneous, intradermal, intramuscular, intravenous ortransdermal. Preferably, the administration is s.c., and most preferablyi.d. administration may be by infusion pump.

Since the peptides of the invention were isolated from NHL, themedicament of the invention is preferably used to treat NHL.

The present invention further relates to a method for producing apersonalized pharmaceutical (composition) for an individual patientcomprising manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition comprising atleast one peptide selected from a warehouse of pre-screened TUMAPs,wherein the at least one peptide used in the pharmaceutical compositionis selected for suitability in the individual patient. In oneembodiment, the pharmaceutical composition is a vaccine. The methodcould also be adapted to produce T cell clones for down-streamapplications, such as TCR isolations, or soluble antibodies, and othertreatment options.

A “personalized pharmaceutical” shall mean specifically tailoredtherapies for one individual patient that will only be used for therapyin such individual patient, including actively personalized cancervaccines and adoptive cellular therapies using autologous patienttissue.

As used herein, the term “warehouse” shall refer to a group or set ofpeptides that have been pre-screened for immunogenicity and/orover-presentation in a particular tumor type. The term “warehouse” isnot intended to imply that the particular peptides included in thevaccine have been pre-manufactured and stored in a physical facility,although that possibility is contemplated. It is expressly contemplatedthat the peptides may be manufactured de novo for each individualizedvaccine produced, or may be pre-manufactured and stored. The warehouse(e.g. in the form of a database) is composed of tumor-associatedpeptides which were highly overexpressed in the tumor tissue of NHLpatients with various HLA-A HLA-B and HLA-C alleles. It may contain MHCclass I and MHC class II peptides or elongated MHC class I peptides. Inaddition to the tumor associated peptides collected from several NHLtissues, the warehouse may contain HLA-A*02 and HLA-A*24 markerpeptides. These peptides allow comparison of the magnitude of T-cellimmunity induced by TUMAPS in a quantitative manner and hence allowimportant conclusion to be drawn on the capacity of the vaccine toelicit anti-tumor responses. Secondly, they function as importantpositive control peptides derived from a “non-self” antigen in the casethat any vaccine-induced T-cell responses to TUMAPs derived from “self”antigens in a patient are not observed. And thirdly, it may allowconclusions to be drawn, regarding the status of immunocompetence of thepatient.

TUMAPs for the warehouse are identified by using an integratedfunctional genomics approach combining gene expression analysis, massspectrometry, and T-cell immunology (XPresident®). The approach assuresthat only TUMAPs truly present on a high percentage of tumors but not oronly minimally expressed on normal tissue, are chosen for furtheranalysis. For initial peptide selection, NHL samples from patients andblood from healthy donors were analyzed in a stepwise approach:

1. HLA ligands from the malignant material were identified by massspectrometry2. Genome-wide messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression analysis wasused to identify genes over-expressed in the malignant tissue (NHL)compared with a range of normal organs and tissues3. Identified HLA ligands were compared to gene expression data.Peptides over-presented or selectively presented on tumor tissue,preferably encoded by selectively expressed or over-expressed genes asdetected in step 2 were considered suitable TUMAP candidates for amulti-peptide vaccine.4. Literature research was performed in order to identify additionalevidence supporting the relevance of the identified peptides as TUMAPs5. The relevance of over-expression at the mRNA level was confirmed byredetection of selected TUMAPs from step 3 on tumor tissue and lack of(or infrequent) detection on healthy tissues.6. In order to assess, whether an induction of in vivo T-cell responsesby the selected peptides may be feasible, in vitro immunogenicity assayswere performed using human T cells from healthy donors as well as fromNHL patients.

In an aspect, the peptides are pre-screened for immunogenicity beforebeing included in the warehouse. By way of example, and not limitation,the immunogenicity of the peptides included in the warehouse isdetermined by a method comprising in vitro T-cell priming throughrepeated stimulations of CD8+ T cells from healthy donors withartificial antigen presenting cells loaded with peptide/MHC complexesand anti-CD28 antibody.

This method is preferred for rare cancers and patients with a rareexpression profile. In contrast to multi-peptide cocktails with a fixedcomposition as currently developed, the warehouse allows a significantlyhigher matching of the actual expression of antigens in the tumor withthe vaccine. Selected single or combinations of several “off-the-shelf”peptides will be used for each patient in a multitarget approach. Intheory, an approach based on selection of e.g. 5 different antigenicpeptides from a library of 50 would already lead to approximately 17million possible drug product (DP) compositions.

In an aspect, the peptides are selected for inclusion in the vaccinebased on their suitability for the individual patient based on themethod according to the present invention as described herein, or asbelow.

The HLA phenotype, transcriptomic and peptidomic data is gathered fromthe patient's tumor material, and blood samples to identify the mostsuitable peptides for each patient containing “warehouse” andpatient-unique (i.e. mutated) TUMAPs. Those peptides will be chosen,which are selectively or over-expressed in the patients' tumor and,where possible, show strong in vitro immunogenicity if tested with thepatients' individual PBMCs.

Preferably, the peptides included in the vaccine are identified by amethod comprising: (a) identifying tumor-associated peptides (TUMAPs)presented by a tumor sample from the individual patient; (b) comparingthe peptides identified in (a) with a warehouse (database) of peptidesas described above; and (c) selecting at least one peptide from thewarehouse (database) that correlates with a tumor-associated peptideidentified in the patient. For example, the TUMAPs presented by thetumor sample are identified by: (a1) comparing expression data from thetumor sample to expression data from a sample of normal tissuecorresponding to the tissue type of the tumor sample to identifyproteins that are over-expressed or aberrantly expressed in the tumorsample; and (a2) correlating the expression data with sequences of MHCligands bound to MHC class I and/or class II molecules in the tumorsample to identify MHC ligands derived from proteins over-expressed oraberrantly expressed by the tumor. Preferably, the sequences of MHCligands are identified by eluting bound peptides from MHC moleculesisolated from the tumor sample, and sequencing the eluted ligands.Preferably, the tumor sample and the normal tissue are obtained from thesame patient.

In addition to, or as an alternative to, selecting peptides using awarehousing (database) model, TUMAPs may be identified in the patient denovo, and then included in the vaccine. As one example, candidate TUMAPsmay be identified in the patient by (a1) comparing expression data fromthe tumor sample to expression data from a sample of normal tissuecorresponding to the tissue type of the tumor sample to identifyproteins that are over-expressed or aberrantly expressed in the tumorsample; and (a2) correlating the expression data with sequences of MHCligands bound to MHC class I and/or class II molecules in the tumorsample to identify MHC ligands derived from proteins over-expressed oraberrantly expressed by the tumor. As another example, proteins may beidentified containing mutations that are unique to the tumor samplerelative to normal corresponding tissue from the individual patient, andTUMAPs can be identified that specifically target the mutation.

For example, the genome of the tumor and of corresponding normal tissuecan be sequenced by whole genome sequencing: For discovery ofnon-synonymous mutations in the protein-coding regions of genes, genomicDNA and RNA are extracted from tumor tissues and normal non-mutatedgenomic germline DNA is extracted from peripheral blood mononuclearcells (PBMCs). The applied NGS approach is confined to the re-sequencingof protein coding regions (exome re-sequencing). For this purpose,exonic DNA from human samples is captured using vendor-supplied targetenrichment kits, followed by sequencing with e.g. a HiSeq2000(Illumina). Additionally, tumor mRNA is sequenced for directquantification of gene expression and validation that mutated genes areexpressed in the patients' tumors. The resultant millions of sequencereads are processed through software algorithms. The output listcontains mutations and gene expression. Tumor-specific somatic mutationsare determined by comparison with the PBMC-derived germline variationsand prioritized. The de novo identified peptides can then be tested forimmunogenicity as described above for the warehouse, and candidateTUMAPs possessing suitable immunogenicity are selected for inclusion inthe vaccine.

In one exemplary embodiment, the peptides included in the vaccine areidentified by: (a) identifying tumor-associated peptides (TUMAPs)presented by a tumor sample from the individual patient by the method asdescribed above; (b) comparing the peptides identified in a) with awarehouse of peptides that have been prescreened for immunogenicity andoverpresentation in tumors as compared to corresponding normal tissue;(c) selecting at least one peptide from the warehouse that correlateswith a tumor-associated peptide identified in the patient; and (d)optionally, selecting at least one peptide identified de novo in (a)confirming its immunogenicity.

In one exemplary embodiment, the peptides included in the vaccine areidentified by: (a) identifying tumor-associated peptides (TUMAPs)presented by a tumor sample from the individual patient; and (b)selecting at least one peptide identified de novo in (a) and confirmingits immunogenicity.

Once the peptides for a personalized peptide based vaccine are selected,the vaccine is produced. The vaccine preferably is a liquid formulationconsisting of the individual peptides dissolved in between 20-40% DMSO,preferably about 30-35% DMSO, such as about 33% DMSO.

Each peptide to be included into a product is dissolved in DMSO. Theconcentration of the single peptide solutions has to be chosen dependingon the number of peptides to be included into the product. The singlepeptide-DMSO solutions are mixed in equal parts to achieve a solutioncontaining all peptides to be included in the product with aconcentration of ˜2.5 mg/ml per peptide. The mixed solution is thendiluted 1:3 with water for injection to achieve a concentration of 0.826mg/ml per peptide in 33% DMSO. The diluted solution is filtered througha 0.22 μm sterile filter. The final bulk solution is obtained.

Final bulk solution is filled into vials and stored at −20° C. untiluse. One vial contains 700 μL solution, containing 0.578 mg of eachpeptide. Of this, 500 μL (approx. 400 μg per peptide) will be appliedfor intradermal injection.

In addition to being useful for treating cancer, the peptides of thepresent invention are also useful as diagnostics. Since the peptideswere generated from NHL cells and since it was determined that thesepeptides are not or at lower levels present in normal tissues, thesepeptides can be used to diagnose the presence of a cancer.

The presence of claimed peptides on tissue biopsies in blood samples canassist a pathologist in diagnosis of cancer. Detection of certainpeptides by means of antibodies, mass spectrometry or other methodsknown in the art can tell the pathologist that the tissue sample ismalignant or inflamed or generally diseased, or can be used as abiomarker for NHL. Presence of groups of peptides can enableclassification or sub-classification of diseased tissues.

The detection of peptides on diseased tissue specimen can enable thedecision about the benefit of therapies involving the immune system,especially if T-lymphocytes are known or expected to be involved in themechanism of action. Loss of MHC expression is a well describedmechanism by which infected of malignant cells escapeimmuno-surveillance. Thus, presence of peptides shows that thismechanism is not exploited by the analyzed cells.

The peptides of the present invention might be used to analyzelymphocyte responses against those peptides such as T cell responses orantibody responses against the peptide or the peptide complexed to MHCmolecules. These lymphocyte responses can be used as prognostic markersfor decision on further therapy steps. These responses can also be usedas surrogate response markers in immunotherapy approaches aiming toinduce lymphocyte responses by different means, e.g. vaccination ofprotein, nucleic acids, autologous materials, adoptive transfer oflymphocytes. In gene therapy settings, lymphocyte responses againstpeptides can be considered in the assessment of side effects. Monitoringof lymphocyte responses might also be a valuable tool for follow-upexaminations of transplantation therapies, e.g. for the detection ofgraft versus host and host versus graft diseases.

The present invention will now be described in the following exampleswhich describe preferred embodiments thereof, and with reference to theaccompanying figures, nevertheless, without being limited thereto. Forthe purposes of the present invention, all references as cited hereinare incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

FIGS. 1A to 1P show the over-presentation of various peptides in normaltissues (white bars) and NHL (black bars). FIG. 1A) Gene symbol: TOX2,Peptide: LLSGQLPTI (SEQ ID NO.: 1); Tissues from left to right: 3adipose tissues, 3 adrenal glands, 15 blood cell samples, 12 bloodvessels, 10 bone marrows, 7 brains, 8 breasts, 2 cartilages, 2 eyes, 3gallbladders, 6 hearts, 14 kidneys, 19 large intestines, 20 livers, 45lungs, 8 lymph nodes, 7 nerves, 3 ovaries, 10 pancreases, 3 parathyroidglands, 1 peritoneum, 5 pituitary glands, 6 placentas, 3 pleuras, 3prostates, 7 salivary glands, 5 skeletal muscles, 11 skins, 3 smallintestines, 11 spleens, 5 stomachs, 6 testes, 2 thymi, 2 thyroid glands,9 tracheas, 7 ureters, 8 urinary bladders, 5 uteri, 6 esophagi, 18 NHLsamples. The peptide has additionally been detected on 1/84 lungcancers, 1/17 chronic lymphocytic leukemias, 1/20 pancreatic cancer celllines, 1/20 ovarian cancers and 1/16 uterus cancers. FIG. 1B) Genesymbol: TAP1, Peptide: VLQGLTFTL (SEQ ID NO.: 5); Tissues from left toright: 3 adipose tissues, 3 adrenal glands, 15 blood cell samples, 12blood vessels, 10 bone marrows, 7 brains, 8 breasts, 2 cartilages, 2eyes, 3 gallbladders, 6 hearts, 14 kidneys, 19 large intestines, 20livers, 45 lungs, 8 lymph nodes, 7 nerves, 3 ovaries, 10 pancreases, 3parathyroid glands, 1 peritoneum, 5 pituitary glands, 6 placentas, 3pleuras, 3 prostates, 7 salivary glands, 5 skeletal muscles, 11 skins, 3small intestines, 11 spleens, 5 stomachs, 6 testes, 2 thymi, 2 thyroidglands, 9 tracheas, 7 ureters, 8 urinary bladders, 5 uteri, 6 esophagi,18 NHL samples. The peptide has additionally been detected on 4/101 lungcancers, 1/18 breast cancers, 1/17 chronic lymphocytic leukemias, 2/17bile duct and gallbladder cancers, 2/16 melanomas, 2/20 ovarian cancersand 1/15 urinary bladder cancers. FIG. 1C) Gene symbol: SLC20A1,Peptide: ILASIFETV (SEQ ID NO.: 41); Tissues from left to right: 3adipose tissues, 3 adrenal glands, 15 blood cell samples, 12 bloodvessels, 10 bone marrows, 7 brains, 8 breasts, 2 cartilages, 2 eyes, 3gallbladders, 6 hearts, 14 kidneys, 19 large intestines, 20 livers, 45lungs, 8 lymph nodes, 7 nerves, 3 ovaries, 10 pancreases, 3 parathyroidglands, 1 peritoneum, 5 pituitary glands, 6 placentas, 3 pleuras, 3prostates, 7 salivary glands, 5 skeletal muscles, 11 skins, 3 smallintestines, 11 spleens, 5 stomachs, 6 testes, 2 thymi, 2 thyroid glands,9 tracheas, 7 ureters, 8 urinary bladders, 5 uteri, 6 esophagi, 18 NHLsamples. The peptide has additionally been detected on 10/101 lungcancers, 4/18 acute myelogenous leukemias, 1/18 breast cancers, 1/17chronic lymphocytic leukemias, 3/20 pancreatic cancer cell lines, 2/17bile duct and gallbladder cancers, 4/16 melanomas, 1/20 ovarian cancers,2/19 pancreas cancers, 1/38 prostate cancers, 2/22 kidney cancers and1/15 urinary bladder cancers. FIG. 1D) Gene symbol: COPS7B, Peptide:NLLEQFILL (SEQ ID NO.: 248); Samples from left to right: 4 cancer celllines, 6 normal tissues (1 lymph node, 3 spleens, 1 stomach, 1 uterus),55 cancer tissues (2 brain cancers, 1 breast cancer, 1 cecum cancer, 6colon cancers, 6 leukocytic leukemia cancers, 2 liver cancers, 10 lungcancers, 8 lymph node cancers, 1 myeloid cell cancer, 3 ovarian cancers,1 prostate cancer, 1 rectum cancer, 4 skin cancers, 2 stomach cancers, 3urinary bladder cancers, 4 uterus cancers). Discrepancies regarding thelist of tumor types between FIG. 1D and Table 4A might be due to themore stringent selection criteria applied in Table 4A (for detailsplease refer to Table 4A). The normal tissue panel and the cancer celllines and xenografts tested were the same as in FIG. 1A to C. FIG. 1E)Gene symbol: KDM5B, Peptide: LLSEETPSA (SEQ ID NO.: 2); Samples fromleft to right: 1 primary culture, 40 cancer tissues (1 bone marrowcancer, 1 brain cancer, 2 breast cancers, 8 head and neck cancers, 4leukocytic leukemia cancers, 1 liver cancer, 7 lung cancers, 6 lymphnode cancers, 2 myeloid cell cancers, 1 ovarian cancer, 3 skin cancers,3 urinary bladder cancers, 1 uterus cancer). FIG. 1F) Gene symbol:CDC42, Peptide: FLLVGTQIDL (SEQ ID NO.: 10); Samples from left to right:2 cell lines, 10 cancer tissues (2 breast cancers, 1 head and neckcancer, 1 leukocytic leukemia cancer, 1 lung cancer, 4 lymph nodecancers, 1 uterus cancer). FIG. 1G) Gene symbol: HAPLN3, Peptide:GLLLLVPLL (SEQ ID NO.: 12); Samples from left to right: 16 cancertissues (1 breast cancer, 1 colon cancer, 1 colorectal cancer, 1esophageal cancer, 1 gallbladder cancer, 1 head and neck cancer, 2 lungcancers, 5 lymph node cancers, 2 ovarian cancers, 1 skin cancer). FIG.1H) Gene symbol: JAK3, Peptide: HLVPASWKL (SEQ ID NO.: 13); Samples fromleft to right: 10 cancer tissues (1 leukocytic leukemia cancer, 1 lungcancer, 5 lymph node cancers, 1 ovarian cancer, 1 skin cancer, 1 testiscancer). FIG. 1I) Gene symbol: TMEM67, Peptide: FLGSFIDHV (SEQ ID NO.:26); Samples from left to right: 1 cell line, 9 cancer tissues (1 braincancer, 1 lung cancer, 1 lymph node cancer, 1 myeloid cell cancer, 2ovarian cancers, 2 skin cancers, 1 uterus cancer). FIG. 1J) Genesymbols: PTTG1, PTTG2, Peptide: ILSTLDVEL (SEQ ID NO.: 30); Samples fromleft to right: 29 cancer tissues (1 bone marrow cancer, 2 colon cancers,1 gallbladder cancer, 3 head and neck cancers, 1 kidney cancer, 5 lungcancers, 7 lymph node cancers, 1 ovarian cancer, 5 skin cancers, 2urinary bladder cancers, 1 uterus cancer). FIG. 1K) Gene symbol: DCAKD,Peptide: VILDIPLLFET (SEQ ID NO.: 36); Samples from left to right: 2cell lines, 20 cancer tissues (1 brain cancer, 1 breast cancer, 1colorectal cancer, 1 head and neck cancer, 1 leukocytic leukemia cancer,1 liver cancer, 3 lung cancers, 4 lymph node cancers, 1 myeloid cellcancer, 1 ovarian cancer, 4 skin cancers, 1 uterus cancer). FIG. 1L)Gene symbol: KDM2B, Peptide: ALLEGVKNV (SEQ ID NO.: 43); Samples fromleft to right: 13 cancer tissues (1 breast cancer, 1 leukocytic leukemiacancer, 1 lung cancer, 6 lymph node cancers, 3 ovarian cancers, 1 rectumcancer). FIG. 1M) Gene symbol: ACHE, Peptide: SLDLRPLEV (SEQ ID NO.:74); Samples from left to right: 1 cell line, 2 normal tissues (1 lymphnode, 1 spleen), 24 cancer tissues (3 brain cancers, 1 colon cancer, 1gallbladder cancer, 1 kidney cancer, 1 lung cancer, 12 lymph nodecancers, 1 ovarian cancer, 1 skin cancer, 2 stomach cancers, 1 testiscancer). FIG. 1N) Gene symbol: CYTB, Peptide: FLYSETWNI (SEQ ID NO.:254); Samples from left to right: 7 cell lines, 15 cancer tissues (1colon cancer, 2 head and neck cancers, 3 leukocytic leukemia cancers, 1liver cancer, 6 lymph node cancers, 1 myeloid cell cancer, 1 skincancer). FIG. 1O) Gene symbol: ACN9, Peptide: FLQEWEVYA (SEQ ID NO.:257); Samples from left to right: 2 cell lines, 11 cancer tissues (2leukocytic leukemia cancers, 1 liver cancer, 4 lymph node cancers, 1myeloid cells cancer, 2 skin cancers, 1 urinary bladder cancer). FIG.1P) Gene symbol: SMC2, Peptide: TVLDGLEFKV (SEQ ID NO.: 259); Samplesfrom left to right: 1 primary culture, 14 cancer tissues (1 head andneck cancer, 3 leukocytic leukemia cancers, 3 lung cancers, 3 lymph nodecancers, 1 myeloid cell cancer, 1 ovarian cancer, 2 skin cancers).

FIGS. 2A to 2C show exemplary expression profiles of source genes of thepresent invention that are highly over-expressed or exclusivelyexpressed in NHL in a panel of normal tissues (white bars) and 10 NHLsamples (black bars). Tissues from left to right: 6 arteries, 2 bloodcell samples, 2 brains, 1 heart, 2 livers, 3 lungs, 2 veins, 1 adiposetissue, 1 adrenal gland, 5 bone marrows, 1 cartilage, 1 colon, 1esophagus, 2 eyes, 2 gallbladders, 1 kidney, 6 lymph nodes, 4pancreases, 2 peripheral nerves, 2 pituitary glands, 1 rectum, 2salivary glands, 2 skeletal muscles, 1 skin, 1 small intestine, 1spleen, 1 stomach, 1 thyroid gland, 7 tracheas, 1 urinary bladder, 1breast, 5 ovaries, 5 placentas, 1 prostate, 1 testis, 1 thymus, 1uterus, 10 NHL samples. FIG. 2A) Gene symbol: MIXL1. FIG. 2B) Genesymbol: CCR4. FIG. 2C) Gene symbol: HIST1H1B.

FIG. 3 shows exemplary immunogenicity data: flow cytometry results afterpeptide-specific multimer staining.

FIGS. 4A to 4C show exemplary results of peptide-specific in vitro CD8+T cell responses of a healthy HLA-A*02+ donor. CD8+ T cells were primedusing artificial APCs coated with anti-CD28 mAb and HLA-A*02 in complexwith Seq ID No 253 peptide (A, left panel), Seq ID No 258 peptide (B,left panel) and Seq ID No 260 peptide (C, left panel), respectively.After three cycles of stimulation, the detection of peptide-reactivecells was performed by 2D multimer staining with A*02/Seq ID No 253 (A),A*02/Seq ID No 258 (B) or A*02/Seq ID No 260 (C). Right panels (A, B andC) show control staining of cells stimulated with irrelevantA*02/peptide complexes. Viable singlet cells were gated for CD8+lymphocytes. Boolean gates helped excluding false-positive eventsdetected with multimers specific for different peptides. Frequencies ofspecific multimer+ cells among CD8+ lymphocytes are indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Examples Example 1 Identificationand Quantitation of Tumor Associated Peptides Presented on the CellSurface Tissue Samples

Patients' tumor tissues were obtained from: Asterand (Detroit, Mich.,USA & Royston, Herts, UK); ProteoGenex Inc. (Culver City, Calif., USA).

Normal tissues were obtained from Asterand (Detroit, Mich., USA &Royston, Herts, UK); Bio-Options Inc. (Brea, Calif., USA); BioServe(Beltsville, Md., USA); Capital BioScience Inc. (Rockville, Md., USA);Geneticist Inc. (Glendale, Calif., USA); Kyoto Prefectural University ofMedicine (KPUM) (Kyoto, Japan); ProteoGenex Inc. (Culver City, Calif.,USA); Tissue Solutions Ltd (Glasgow, UK); University Hospital Geneva(Geneva, Switzerland); University Hospital Heidelberg (Heidelberg,Germany); University Hospital Munich (Munich, Germany); and UniversityHospital Tübingen (Tübingen, Germany).

Written informed consents of all patients had been given before surgeryor autopsy. Tissues were shock-frozen immediately after excision andstored until isolation of TUMAPs at −70° C. or below.

Isolation of HLA Peptides from Tissue Samples

HLA peptide pools from shock-frozen tissue samples were obtained byimmune precipitation from solid tissues according to a slightly modifiedprotocol (Falk et al., 1991; Seeger et al., 1999) using theHLA-A*02-specific antibody BB7.2, the HLA-A, -B, C-specific antibodyW6/32, CNBr-activated sepharose, acid treatment, and ultrafiltration.

Mass Spectrometry Analyses

The HLA peptide pools as obtained were separated according to theirhydrophobicity by reversed-phase chromatography (nanoAcquity UPLCsystem, Waters) and the eluting peptides were analyzed in LTQ-velos andfusion hybrid mass spectrometers (ThermoElectron) equipped with an ESIsource. Peptide pools were loaded directly onto the analyticalfused-silica micro-capillary column (75 μm i.d.×250 mm) packed with 1.7μm C18 reversed-phase material (Waters) applying a flow rate of 400 nLper minute. Subsequently, the peptides were separated using a two-step180 minute-binary gradient from 10% to 33% B at a flow rate of 300 nLper minute. The gradient was composed of Solvent A (0.1% formic acid inwater) and solvent B (0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile). A gold coatedglass capillary (PicoTip, New Objective) was used for introduction intothe nanoESI source. The LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometers were operated inthe data-dependent mode using a TOPS strategy. In brief, a scan cyclewas initiated with a full scan of high mass accuracy in the Orbitrap(R=30 000), which was followed by MS/MS scans also in the Orbitrap(R=7500) on the 5 most abundant precursor ions with dynamic exclusion ofpreviously selected ions. Tandem mass spectra were interpreted bySEQUEST and additional manual control. The identified peptide sequencewas assured by comparison of the generated natural peptide fragmentationpattern with the fragmentation pattern of a synthetic sequence-identicalreference peptide.

Label-free relative LC-MS quantitation was performed by ion countingi.e. by extraction and analysis of LC-MS features (Mueller et al.,2007). The method assumes that the peptide's LC-MS signal areacorrelates with its abundance in the sample. Extracted features werefurther processed by charge state deconvolution and retention timealignment (Mueller et al., 2008; Sturm et al., 2008). Finally, all LC-MSfeatures were cross-referenced with the sequence identification resultsto combine quantitative data of different samples and tissues to peptidepresentation profiles. The quantitative data were normalized in atwo-tier fashion according to central tendency to account for variationwithin technical and biological replicates. Thus, each identifiedpeptide can be associated with quantitative data allowing relativequantification between samples and tissues. In addition, allquantitative data acquired for peptide candidates was inspected manuallyto assure data consistency and to verify the accuracy of the automatedanalysis. For each peptide a presentation profile was calculated showingthe mean sample presentation as well as replicate variations. Theprofiles juxtapose NHL samples to a baseline of normal tissue samples.Presentation profiles of exemplary over-presented peptides are shown inFIGS. 1A-1P. Presentation scores for exemplary peptides are shown inTable 8.

TABLE 8 Presentation scores. The table lists peptidesthat are very highly over-presented on tumorscompared to a panel of normal tissues (+++),highly over-presented on tumors compared to apanel of normal tissues (++) or over-presentedon tumors compared to a panel of normal tissues(+). The panel of normal tissues consideredrelevant for comparison with tumors consisted of:adipose tissue, adrenal gland, artery, vein,bone marrow, brain, central and peripheral nerve,colon, rectum, small intestine incl. duodenum,esophagus, eye, gallbladder, heart, kidney, liver,lung, lymph node, mononuclear white blood cells,pancreas, parathyroid gland, peritoneum,pituitary, pleura, salivary gland, skeletalmuscle, skin, spleen, stomach, thymus, thyroidgland, trachea, ureter, urinary bladder. SEQ ID Peptide No. SequencePresentation 1 LLSGQLPTI +++ 2 LLSEETPSA +++ 3 LTIDTQYYL +++ 5 VLQGLTFTL+++ 6 TLITLPLLFL +++ 7 NLLGMIFSM +++ 8 ALYAVIEKA +++ 9 FLLDLDPLL +++ 10FLLVGTQIDL +++ 11 GLDTVVALL +++ 12 GLLLLVPLL +++ 13 HLVPASWKL +++ 15IIIEDLLEA +++ 16 TLIAAILYL +++ 17 VIIPLLSSV +++ 18 KLTDQPPLV +++ 19VLEAILPLV +++ 20 YLIAGGDRWL +++ 21 ALFKEAYSL +++ 22 ALKKHLTSV +++ 23ALVEDIINL +++ 24 AVLGFSFRL +++ 25 FLDTSNQHLL +++ 26 FLGSFIDHV +++ 27FLNQESFDL +++ 28 FLSNANPSL +++ 29 ILSDVTQGL +++ 30 ILSTLDVEL +++ 31KLYDEESLL +++ 32 VLNEDELPSV +++ 33 LLANIVPIAMLV +++ 34 LLWEDGVTEA +++ 35SLSSERYYL +++ 36 VILDIPLLFET +++ 37 VLGNALEGV +++ 38 YLTAEILELAGN +++ 40FLNSVIVDL + 41 ILASIFETV +++ 43 ALLEGVKNV + 44 FIIEEQSFL +++ 45FILDDSALYL + 46 FLVEEIFQT ++ 47 GLLPKLTAL + 49 TILGDPQILL +++ 50LLLDGLIYL + 53 FLREYFERL +++ 54 DIFDAMFSV +++ 55 ILVEVDLVQA ++ 56GLQDLLFSL ++ 57 LQIGDFVSV + 60 SLLIDVITV +++ 61 SLLNKDLSL + 62 ALAPYLDLL+++ 64 FLVEVSNDV ++ 65 NLTDVSPDL +++ 67 LLATVNVAL +++ 69 TLLAFPLLL + 71VLLDYVGNVQL +++ 72 TLQEETAVYL +++ 74 SLDLRPLEV + 75 AALKYIPSV +++ 76ALADLVPVDVVV +++ 77 ALLDVSNNYGI +++ 78 AMEEAVAQV +++ 79 AMKEEKEQL +++ 80YLFDEIDQA +++ 81 FIFSYITAV +++ 82 FLIDGSSSV +++ 83 FLMDDNMSNTL +++ 84FLQELQLEHA +++ 85 GLAPAEVVVATVA +++ 86 GLATIRAYL +++ 87 GLFARIIMI +++ 88GLFDNRSGLPEA +++ 89 GLTALHVAV +++ 90 HLDEVFLEL +++ 91 HLSSTTAQV +++ 92KLLFEIASA +++ 93 KLLGSLQLL +++ 94 LLAGQATTAYF +++ 95 LLFDLIPVVSV +++ 96LLLNENESLFL +++ 97 LLNFSPGNL +++ 98 MLQDGIARL +++ 99 QLYDGATALFL +++ 100RLIRTIAAI +++ 101 SLDQSTWNV +++ 102 SLFAAISGMIL +++ 103 SLQDHLEKV +++104 VLLGLPLLV +++ 105 VLTPVILQV +++ 106 VLYELLQYI +++ 107 VQAVSIPEV +++108 YLAPENGYLM +++ 109 YLFQFSAAL +++ 110 YQYPFVLGL +++ 111 YLLDTLLSL +++112 FLAILPEEV +++ 113 FVIDSFEEL +++ 114 GLSDISPST +++ 115 LLIDIIHFL +++116 SLLDNLLTI + 117 VLATILAQL +++ 118 VLDGMIYAI +++ 119 ELCDIILRV +++120 VLLGTTWAL +++ 121 YLTGYNFTL +++ 122 AISEAQESV + 123 ALLSAFVQL ++ 124FLGVVVPTV +++ 125 FVAPPTAAV +++ 126 GLSIFIYRL +++ 128 KLFDASPTFFA ++ 131VLIEETDQL +++ 132 VLQDQVDEL +++ 133 ALEELTGFREL +++ 134 ALGRLGILSV +++135 ALTGLQFQL +++ 136 FIFGIVHLL +++ 137 FIQQERFFL +++ 138 NLINNIFEL +139 FLASPLVAI +++ 140 FLFEDFVEV +++ 141 FLGELTLQL +++ 142 FLYEDSKSVRL+++ 143 TLHAVDVTL +++ 144 GLITQVDKL +++ 145 GLLHEVVSL +++ 146 GLLQQPPAL+++ 147 GLSEYQRNFL +++ 148 ICAGHVPGV +++ 149 ILNPVTTKL +++ 150 ILSEKEYKL+++ 151 ILVKQSPML +++ 152 KIMYTLVSV +++ 153 KLLKGIYAI +++ 154 KLMNIQQQL+++ 155 KLMTSLVKV +++ 156 KMLEDDLKL +++ 157 KVLEFLAKV +++ 158 KVQDVLHQV+++ 159 LLLSDSGFYL +++ 160 LLPPPSPAA +++ 161 NLMLELETV +++ 162 RLADLKVSI+++ 163 SIFDAVLKGV +++ 164 SLFDGAVISTV +++ 165 KLLEEIEFL ++ 166SLFSEVASL +++ 167 SLFSITKSV +++ 168 SLLSPLLSV +++ 169 SSLEENLLHQV +++170 STIELSENSL +++ 171 TLLDVISAL +++ 172 TLQDSLEFI +++ 173 VILDSVASV +++174 VLVEITDVDFAA +++ 175 VMESILLRL +++ 176 YLHIYESQL +++ 177 YLYEAEEATTL+++ 178 YVLQGEFFL +++ 179 FVDTNLYFL +++ 180 GILQLVESV ++ 182 LLPPPPPVA +183 VLFETVLTI + 185 FIAQLNNVEL + 186 FLDVSRDFV + 188 GLEDEMYEV ++ 189SLSHLVPAL + 190 GLIELVDQL ++ 191 GLSDISAQV +++ 194 SLAPFDREPFTL +++ 195ALIPDLNQI +++ 196 TLALAMIYL ++ 200 YLLDFEDRL + 201 YLNISQVNV ++ 203ILDTIFHKV +++ 204 RLCDIVVNV +++ 207 GLVGLLEQA ++ 211 FIDDLFAFV +++ 212FLIGQGAHV + 213 YINEDEYEV + 214 FLFDGSMSL ++ 215 QLFEEEIEL + 216KVVSNLPAI +++ 217 AQFGAVLEV + 218 ALDQFLEGI + 219 ALLELENSV +++ 220FLAEAPTAL ++ 221 FLAPDNSLLLA +++ 222 FLIETGTLL + 224 FLSPLLPLL + 225GTYQDVGSLNIGDV +++ 226 GVIDPVPEV + 227 IIAEGIPEA + 231 IVMGAIPSV + 232KVMEGTVAA ++ 233 MLEVHIPSV ++ 236 SLFDGFFLTA + 237 YLDRLIPQA ++ 239VLIDDTVLL ++ 242 GILDFZVFL + 243 GLPDLDIYL +++ 244 ILEPFLPAV + 246KLPVPLESV + 249 VLLESLVEI +++ 252 YLGDLIMAL + 253 YSDDDVPSV +++ 254FLYSETWNI +++ 255 GMWNPNAPVFL +++ 256 ALQETPPQV +++ 257 FLQEWEVYA +++258 RIYPFLLMV +++ 259 TVLDGLEFKV +++ 260 RLDEAFDFV ++ 263 GLMDNEIKV +++264 ILTGTPPGV +++ 265 ILWHFVASL +++ 266 QLTEMLPSI +++ 267 SLLETGSDLLL+++ 268 VLFPLPTPL +++ 269 VLQNVAFSV +++ 270 VVVDSDSLAFV +++ 271YLLDQPVLEQRL +++ 272 KLDHTLSQI +++ 273 AILLPQPPK +++ 274 KLLNLISKL +++275 KLMDLEDCAL +++ 276 NMISYVVHL +++ 277 FLIDLNSTHGTFL + 279 NLAGENILNPL++ 280 SLLNHLPYL +++ 285 SITAVTPLL + 287 ILMGHSLYM ++ 289 SLLAANNLL +++290 IASPVIAAV +++ 291 KIIDTAGLSEA +++ 292 KLINSQISL ++ 294 KLYGPEGLELV +296 FILEPLYKI ++ 298 ALTDVILCV + 299 RLLEEEGVSL + 302 SLAELDEKISA + 303FVWEASHYL ++ 305 AMLAQQMQL + 307 FLLPVAVKL ++ 308 SLLDQIPEM +

Example 2 Expression Profiling of Genes Encoding the Peptides of theInvention

Over-presentation or specific presentation of a peptide on tumor cellscompared to normal cells is sufficient for its usefulness inimmunotherapy, and some peptides are tumor-specific despite their sourceprotein occurring also in normal tissues. Still, mRNA expressionprofiling adds an additional level of safety in selection of peptidetargets for immunotherapies. Especially for therapeutic options withhigh safety risks, such as affinity-matured TCRs, the ideal targetpeptide will be derived from a protein that is unique to the tumor andnot found on normal tissues.

RNA Sources and Preparation

Surgically removed tissue specimens were provided as indicated above(see Example 1) after written informed consent had been obtained fromeach patient. Tumor tissue specimens were snap-frozen immediately aftersurgery and later homogenized with mortar and pestle under liquidnitrogen. Total RNA was prepared from these samples using TRI Reagent(Ambion, Darmstadt, Germany) followed by a cleanup with RNeasy (QIAGEN,Hilden, Germany); both methods were performed according to themanufacturer's protocol.

Total RNA from healthy human tissues for RNASeq experiments was obtainedfrom: Asterand (Detroit, Mich., USA & Royston, Herts, UK); BioCat GmbH(Heidelberg, Germany); BioServe (Beltsville, Md., USA); CapitalBioScience Inc. (Rockville, Md., USA); Geneticist Inc. (Glendale,Calif., USA); Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Pascale” (Naples, Italy);ProteoGenex Inc. (Culver City, Calif., USA); University HospitalHeidelberg (Heidelberg, Germany). Total RNA from tumor tissues forRNASeq experiments was obtained from: Asterand (Detroit, Mich., USA &Royston, Herts, UK); ProteoGenex Inc. (Culver City, Calif., USA).

Quality and quantity of all RNA samples were assessed on an Agilent 2100Bioanalyzer (Agilent, Waldbronn, Germany) using the RNA 6000 PicoLabChip Kit (Agilent).

RNAseq Experiments

Gene expression analysis of—tumor and normal tissue RNA samples wasperformed by next generation sequencing (RNAseq) by CeGaT (Tübingen,Germany). Briefly, sequencing libraries are prepared using the IlluminaHiSeq v4 reagent kit according to the provider's protocol (IlluminaInc., San Diego, Calif., USA), which includes RNA fragmentation, cDNAconversion and addition of sequencing adaptors. Libraries derived frommultiple samples are mixed equimolar and sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq2500 sequencer according to the manufacturer's instructions, generating50 bp single end reads. Processed reads are mapped to the human genome(GRCh38) using the STAR software. Expression data are provided ontranscript level as RPKM (Reads Per Kilobase per Million mapped reads,generated by the software Cufflinks) and on exon level (total reads,generated by the software Bedtools), based on annotations of the ensemblsequence database (Ensembl77). Exon reads are normalized for exon lengthand alignment size to obtain RPKM values. Exemplary expression profilesof source genes of the present invention that are highly over-expressedor exclusively expressed in NHL are shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. Expressionscores for further exemplary genes are shown in Table 9.

TABLE 9 Expression scores. The table lists peptides fromgenes that are very highly over-expressed intumors compared to a panel of normal tissues(+++), highly over-expressed in tumors comparedto a panel of normal tissues (++) or over-expressed in tumors compared to a panel ofnormal tissues (+). The baseline for this scorewas calculated from measurements of the followingrelevant normal tissues: adipose tissue, adrenalgland, artery, blood cells, bone marrow, brain,cartilage, colon, esophagus, eye, gallbladder,heart, kidney, liver, lung, lymph node, pancreas, pituitary, rectum, salivary gland, skeletalmuscle, skin, small intestine, spleen, stomach,thyroid gland, trachea, urinary bladder, andvein. In case expression data for several samplesof the same tissue type were available, thearithmetic mean of all respective samples was used for the calculation.Gene SEQ ID No Sequence Expression   9 FLLDLDPLL ++  21 ALFKEAYSL +  25FLDTSNQHLL ++  30 ILSTLDVEL ++  38 YLTAEILELAGN ++  43 ALLEGVKNV +  55ILVEVDLVQA +  56 GLQDLLFSL +  61 SLLNKDLSL +  91 HLSSTTAQV ++ 102SLFAAISGMIL +++ 106 VLYELLQYI +++ 112 FLAILPEEV ++ 113 FVIDSFEEL +++ 116SLLDNLLTI + 133 ALEELTGFREL + 135 ALTGLQFQL +++ 142 FLYEDSKSVRL +++ 143TLHAVDVTL +++ 146 GLLQQPPAL + 148 ICAGHVPGV +++ 155 KLMTSLVKV +++ 157KVLEFLAKV +++ 158 KVQDVLHQV +++ 159 LLLSDSGFYL ++ 160 LLPPPSPAA +++ 161NLMLELETV +++ 162 RLADLKVSI +++ 167 SLFSITKSV +++ 170 STIELSENSL ++ 174VLVEITDVDFAA + 175 VMESILLRL +++ 178 YVLQGEFFL +++ 183 VLFETVLTI + 192GMAAEVPKV + 199 SLNSTTWKV +++ 202 ALAAGGYDV +++ 222 FLIETGTLL ++ 225GTYQDVGSLNIGDV ++ 229 ILSPWGAEV ++ 238 YQYGAVVTL ++ 256 ALQETPPQV + 260RLDEAFDFV ++ 268 VLFPLPTPL + 276 NMISYVVHL +++ 294 KLYGPEGLELV +++ 297ILQNGLETL +++ 298 ALTDVILCV +++

Example 3 In Vitro Immunogenicity for MHC Class I Presented Peptides

In order to obtain information regarding the immunogenicity of theTUMAPs of the present invention, the inventors performed investigationsusing an in vitro T-cell priming assay based on repeated stimulations ofCD8+ T cells with artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPCs) loadedwith peptide/MHC complexes and anti-CD28 antibody. This way theinventors could show immunogenicity for HLA-A*0201 restricted TUMAPs ofthe invention, demonstrating that these peptides are T-cell epitopesagainst which CD8+ precursor T cells exist in humans (Table 10A).

In Vitro Priming of CD8+ T Cells

In order to perform in vitro stimulations by artificial antigenpresenting cells loaded with peptide-MHC complex (pMHC) and anti-CD28antibody, the inventors first isolated CD8+ T cells from fresh HLA-A*02leukapheresis products via positive selection using CD8 microbeads(Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany) of healthy donors obtainedfrom the University clinics Mannheim, Germany, after informed consent.

PBMCs and isolated CD8+ lymphocytes were incubated in T-cell medium(TCM) until use consisting of RPMI-Glutamax (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe,Germany) supplemented with 10% heat inactivated human AB serum(PAN-Biotech, Aidenbach, Germany), 100 U/ml Penicillin/100 μg/mlStreptomycin (Cambrex, Cologne, Germany), 1 mM sodium pyruvate (CC Pro,Oberdorla, Germany), 20 μg/ml Gentamycin (Cambrex). 2.5 ng/ml IL-7(PromoCell, Heidelberg, Germany) and 10 U/ml IL-2 (Novartis Pharma,Nürnberg, Germany) were also added to the TCM at this step.

Generation of pMHC/anti-CD28 coated beads, T-cell stimulations andreadout was performed in a highly defined in vitro system using fourdifferent pMHC molecules per stimulation condition and 8 different pMHCmolecules per readout condition.

The purified co-stimulatory mouse IgG2a anti human CD28 Ab 9.3 (Jung etal., 1987) was chemically biotinylated usingSulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimidobiotin as recommended by the manufacturer(Perbio, Bonn, Germany). Beads used were 5.6 μm diameter streptavidincoated polystyrene particles (Bangs Laboratories, Illinois, USA).

pMHC used for positive and negative control stimulations wereA*0201/MLA-001 (peptide ELAGIGILTV (SEQ ID NO. 329) from modifiedMelan-A/MART-1) and A*0201/DDX5-001 (YLLPAIVHI from DDX5, SEQ ID NO.330), respectively.

800.000 beads/200 μl were coated in 96-well plates in the presence of4×12.5 ng different biotin-pMHC, washed and 600 ng biotin anti-CD28 wereadded subsequently in a volume of 200 μl. Stimulations were initiated in96-well plates by co-incubating 1×10⁶ CD8+ T cells with 2×10⁵ washedcoated beads in 200 μl TCM supplemented with 5 ng/ml IL-12 (PromoCell)for 3 days at 37° C. Half of the medium was then exchanged by fresh TCMsupplemented with 80 U/ml IL-2 and incubating was continued for 4 daysat 37° C. This stimulation cycle was performed for a total of threetimes. For the pMHC multimer readout using 8 different pMHC moleculesper condition, a two-dimensional combinatorial coding approach was usedas previously described (Andersen et al., 2012) with minor modificationsencompassing coupling to 5 different fluorochromes. Finally, multimericanalyses were performed by staining the cells with Live/dead near IR dye(Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany), CD8-FITC antibody clone SK1 (BD,Heidelberg, Germany) and fluorescent pMHC multimers. For analysis, a BDLSRII SORP cytometer equipped with appropriate lasers and filters wasused. Peptide specific cells were calculated as percentage of total CD8+cells. Evaluation of multimeric analysis was done using the FlowJosoftware (Tree Star, Oreg., USA). In vitro priming of specificmultimer+CD8+ lymphocytes was detected by comparing to negative controlstimulations. Immunogenicity for a given antigen was detected if atleast one evaluable in vitro stimulated well of one healthy donor wasfound to contain a specific CD8+ T-cell line after in vitro stimulation(i.e. this well contained at least 1% of specific multimer+ among CD8+T-cells and the percentage of specific multimer+ cells was at least 10×the median of the negative control stimulations).

In Vitro Immunogenicity for NHL Peptides

For tested HLA class I peptides, in vitro immunogenicity could bedemonstrated by generation of peptide specific T-cell lines. Exemplaryflow cytometry results after TUMAP-specific multimer staining for 2peptides of the invention are shown in FIG. 3 together withcorresponding negative controls. Results for ten peptides from theinvention are summarized in Tables 10A and 10B.

TABLE 10A in vitro immunogenicity of HLA class I peptidesof the invention  Exemplary results of in vitro immunogenicityexperiments conducted by the applicant for the peptides of the invention. <20% = +; 20%-49% = ++; 50 -69% = +++; > =70% = ++++ Seq ID Sequence wells 319 SLYKGLLSV ++ 320 LLWGNLPEI ++ 321KLLAVIHEL ++ 322 TLTNIIHNL ++ 323 ILVDWLVQV ++ 324 LLYDAVHIV ++ 325FLFVDPELV +++ 326 KLTDVGIATL ++++ 327 MLFGHPLLVSV ++ 328 ILFPDIIARA ++++

TABLE 10B In vitro immunogenicity of HLA class I peptides of the invention Exemplary results of in vitro immunogenicityexperiments conducted by the applicant forHLA-A*02 restricted peptides of the invention.Results of in vitro immunogenicityexperiments are indicated. Percentage of positivewells and donors (among evaluable) are summarized as indicated <20% =+; 20%-49% = ++; 50%-69 = +++; > =70% = ++++ SEQ ID NO: SequenceWells positive [%]   1 LLSGQLPTI ″+++″   2 LLSEETPSA ″+″   3 LTIDTQYYL″+″   5 VLQGLTFTL ″+++″   7 NLLGMIFSM ″++++″   8 ALYAVIEKA ″+″   9FLLDLDPLL ″++″  12 GLLLLVPLL ″+++″  13 HLVPASWKL ″+++″  17 VIIPLLSSV″++″  19 VLEAILPLV ″+″  21 ALFKEAYSL ″+″  22 ALKKHLTSV ″++++″  24AVLGFSFRL ″++++″  25 FLDTSNQHLL ″+″  26 FLGSFIDHV ″+″  27 FLNQESFDL ″+″ 28 FLSNANPSL ″++++″  29 ILSDVTQGL ″+″  30 ILSTLDVEL ″++″  33LLANIVPIAMLV ″+″  35 SLSSERYYL ″++++″  36 VILDIPLLFET ″++″  37 VLGNALEGV″+″  40 FLNSVIVDL ″+++″  41 ILASIFETV ″+++″  42 YLQDLVERA ″+++″  43ALLEGVKNV ″++″  44 FIIEEQSFL ″+″  46 FLVEEIFQT ″+″  47 GLLPKLTAL ″++″ 51 SLLGNSPVL ″+++″  52 VLLEDVDAAFL ″+″  53 FLREYFERL ″+++″  57LQIGDFVSV ″++++″  59 RLHREVAQV ″+″  60 SLLIDVITV ″+++″  61 SLLNKDLSL ″+″ 62 ALAPYLDLL ″++″  66 KLAPIPVEL ″++″  67 LLATVNVAL ″+″  68 QIAAFLFTV″+++″  73 YLGEEYPEV ″+″  74 SLDLRPLEV ″++″ 253 YSDDDVPSV ″+++″ 254FLYSETWNI ″+″ 256 ALQETPPQV ″+″ 258 RIYPFLLMV ″++++″ 260 RLDEAFDFV″++++″ 261 FLPETRIMTSV ″+″ 262 LMGPVVHEV ″++″

Example 4 Synthesis of Peptides

All peptides were synthesized using standard and well-established solidphase peptide synthesis using the Fmoc-strategy. Identity and purity ofeach individual peptide have been determined by mass spectrometry andanalytical RP-HPLC. The peptides were obtained as white to off-whitelyophilizates (trifluoro acetate salt) in purities of >50%. All TUMAPsare preferably administered as trifluoro-acetate salts or acetate salts,other salt-forms are also possible.

Example 5 MHC Binding Assays

Candidate peptides for T cell based therapies according to the presentinvention were further tested for their MHC binding capacity (affinity).The individual peptide-MHC complexes were produced by UV-ligandexchange, where a UV-sensitive peptide is cleaved upon UV-irradiation,and exchanged with the peptide of interest as analyzed. Only peptidecandidates that can effectively bind and stabilize the peptide-receptiveMHC molecules prevent dissociation of the MHC complexes. To determinethe yield of the exchange reaction, an ELISA was performed based on thedetection of the light chain (β2m) of stabilized MHC complexes. Theassay was performed as generally described in Rodenko et al. (Rodenko etal., 2006).

96 well MAXISorp plates (NUNC) were coated over night with 2 ug/mlstreptavidin in PBS at room temperature, washed 4× and blocked for 1 hat 37° C. in 2% BSA containing blocking buffer. RefoldedHLA-A*02:01/MLA-001 monomers served as standards, covering the range of15-500 ng/ml. Peptide-MHC monomers of the UV-exchange reaction werediluted 100 fold in blocking buffer. Samples were incubated for 1 h at37° C., washed four times, incubated with 2 ug/ml HRP conjugatedanti-β2m for 1 h at 37° C., washed again and detected with TMB solutionthat is stopped with NH2SO4. Absorption was measured at 450 nm.Candidate peptides that show a high exchange yield (preferably higherthan 50%, most preferred higher than 75%) are generally preferred for ageneration and production of antibodies or fragments thereof, and/or Tcell receptors or fragments thereof, as they show sufficient avidity tothe MHC molecules and prevent dissociation of the MHC complexes.

TABLE 11 MHC class I binding scores.Binding of HLA-class I restricted peptides toHLA-A*02:01 was ranged by peptide exchange yield: ≧10% = +; ≧20% =++; ≧50 = +++; ≧75% = ++++ SEQ ID NO: Sequence Peptide exchange   1LLSGQLPTI ″+++″   2 LLSEETPSA ″+++″   3 LTIDTQYYL ″+++″   4 TLLGFFLAKV″++″   5 VLQGLTFTL ″+++″   6 TLITLPLLFL ″+++″   7 NLLGMIFSM ″++++″   8ALYAVIEKA ″+++″   9 FLLDLDPLL ″+++″  10 FLLVGTQIDL ″+++″  11 GLDTVVALL″+++″  12 GLLLLVPLL ″+++″  13 HLVPASWKL ″+++″  14 LLSDPTPGA ″++″  15IIIEDLLEA ″++++″  16 TLIAAILYL ″++″  17 VIIPLLSSV ″+++″  18 KLTDQPPLV″+++″  19 VLEAILPLV ″++++″  21 ALFKEAYSL ″+++″  22 ALKKHLTSV ″+++″  23ALVEDIINL ″++++″  24 AVLGFSFRL ″+++″  25 FLDTSNQHLL ″+++″  26 FLGSFIDHV″+++″  27 FLNQESFDL ″+++″  28 FLSNANPSL ″+++″  29 ILSDVTQGL ″+++″  30ILSTLDVEL ″+++″  31 KLYDEESLL ″++++″  32 VLNEDELPSV ″+++″  33LLANIVPIAMLV ″++++″  34 LLWEDGVTEA ″+++″  35 SLSSERYYL ″+++″  36VILDIPLLFET ″+++″  37 VLGNALEGV ″+++″  38 YLTAEILELAGN ″++″  39QLLPQGIVPAL ″+++″  40 FLNSVIVDL ″++++″  41 ILASIFETV ″++++″  42YLQDLVERA ″++++″  43 ALLEGVKNV ″+++″  44 FIIEEQSFL ″+++″  45 FILDDSALYL″+++″  46 FLVEEIFQT ″+++″  47 GLLPKLTAL ″+++″  48 KILDEDLYI ″+++″  49TILGDPQILL ″++++″  50 LLLDGLIYL ″+++″  51 SLLGNSPVL ″++++″  52VLLEDVDAAFL ″++++″  53 FLREYFERL ″++++″  54 DIFDAMFSV ″+++++″  55ILVEVDLVQA ″++++″  56 GLQDLLFSL ″+++″  57 LQIGDFVSV ″++++″  58 QLAPFLPQL″+++″  59 RLHREVAQV ″+++″  60 SLLIDVITV ″+++″  61 SLLNKDLSL ″++++″  62ALAPYLDLL ″++++″  63 ALIEEAYGL ″+++″  64 FLVEVSNDV ″++++″  65 NLTDVSPDL″+++″  66 KLAPIPVEL ″++++″  67 LLATVNVAL ″++++″  68 QIAAFLFTV ″++++″  69TLLAFPLLL ″++++″  70 VLIEILQKA ″++++″  71 VLLDYVGNVQL ″++++″  72TLQEETAVYL ″++″  73 YLGEEYPEV ″+++″  74 SLDLRPLEV ″++++″  75 AALKYIPSV″+++″  76 ALADLVPVDVVV ″++++″  77 ALLDVSNNYGI ″++++″  78 AMEEAVAQV ″+++″ 79 AMKEEKEQL ″++″  80 YLFDEIDQA ″+++″  81 FIFSYITAV ″++″  82 FLIDGSSSV″+++″  83 FLMDDNMSNTL ″+++″  84 FLQELQLEHA ″+++″  85 GLAPAEVVVATVA ″+++″ 86 GLATIRAYL ″+++″  87 GLFARIIMI ″++″  88 GLFDNRSGLPEA ″+++″  89GLTALHVAV ″+++″  90 HLDEVFLEL ″+++″  91 HLSSTTAQV ″++″  92 KLLFEIASA″+++″  93 KLLGSLQLL ″++++″  94 LLAGQATTAYF ″+++″  95 LLFDLIPVVSV ″+++″ 96 LLLNENESLFL ″+++″  97 LLNFSPGNL ″+″  98 MLQDGIARL ″+++″  99QLYDGATALFL ″++″ 100 RLIRTIAAI ″+++″ 101 SLDQSTWNV ″++++″ 102SLFAAISGMIL ″+++″ 103 SLQDHLEKV ″+++″ 104 VLLGLPLLV ″+++″ 105 VLTPVILQV″+++″ 106 VLYELLQYI ″++++″ 107 VQAVSIPEV ″+++″ 108 YLAPENGYLM ″+++″ 109YLFQFSAAL ″+++″ 110 YQYPFVLGL ″++++″ 111 YLLDTLLSL ″+++″ 112 FLAILPEEV″+++″ 113 FVIDSFEEL ″+++″ 114 GLSDISPST ″++″ 115 LLIDIIHFL ″++++″ 116SLLDNLLTI ″+++″ 117 VLATILAQL ″++++″ 118 VLDGMIYAI ″+++″ 119 ELCDIILRV″+++″ 120 VLLGTTWAL ″+++″ 121 YLTGYNFTL ″+++″ 122 AISEAQESV ″++″ 123ALLSAFVQL ″+++″ 124 FLGVVVPTV ″+++″ 125 FVAPPTAAV ″+++″ 127 HLMEENMIVYV″+++″ 128 KLFDASPTFFA ″+++″ 129 SLFEASQQL ″+++″ 130 VIFSYVLGV ″+++″ 131VLIEETDQL ″++″ 132 VLQDQVDEL ″++″ 133 ALEELTGFREL ″++″ 134 ALGRLGILSV″+++″ 135 ALTGLQFQL ″+++″ 136 FIFGIVHLL ″+++″ 137 FIQQERFFL ″+++″ 138NLINNIFEL ″++++″ 139 FLASPLVAI ″++++″ 140 FLFEDFVEV ″+++″ 141 FLGELTLQL″+++″ 142 FLYEDSKSVRL ″+++″ 143 TLHAVDVTL ″+++″ 144 GLITQVDKL ″+++″ 145GLLHEVVSL ″+++″ 146 GLLQQPPAL ″+++″ 147 GLSEYQRNFL ″+++″ 148 ICAGHVPGV″+++″ 149 ILNPVTTKL ″+++″ 150 ILSEKEYKL ″+++″ 151 ILVKQSPML ″+++″ 152KIMYTLVSV ″++″ 153 KLLKGIYAI ″+++″ 154 KLMNIQQQL ″+++″ 155 KLMTSLVKV″+++″ 156 KMLEDDLKL ″+++″ 157 KVLEFLAKV ″+++″ 158 KVQDVLHQV ″+++″ 159LLLSDSGFYL ″+++″ 160 LLPPPSPAA ″+++″ 161 NLMLELETV ″+++″ 162 RLADLKVSI″++++″ 163 SIFDAVLKGV ″++++″ 164 SLFDGAVISTV ″+++″ 165 KLLEEIEFL ″+++″167 SLFSITKSV ″+++″ 168 SLLSPLLSV ″+++″ 169 SSLEENLLHQV ″+++″ 171TLLDVISAL ″++++″ 172 TLQDSLEFI ″++++″ 173 VILDSVASV ″++++″ 174VLVEITDVDFAA ″++++″ 175 VMESILLRL ″+++″ 176 YLHIYESQL ″+++″ 177YLYEAEEATTL ″+++″ 178 YVLQGEFFL ″+++″ 179 FVDTNLYFL ″+++″ 180 GILQLVESV″+++″ 181 LLFDQNDKV ″+++″ 182 LLPPPPPVA ″++++″ 183 VLFETVLTI ″+++″ 184AVLGTSWQL ″+++″ 185 FIAQLNNVEL ″+++″ 186 FLDVSRDFV ″++″ 187 FLNSFVFKM″++″ 188 GLEDEMYEV ″++″ 189 SLSHLVPAL ″+++″ 190 GLIELVDQL ″+++″ 191GLSDISAQV ″+++″ 192 GMAAEVPKV ″++″ 193 SLADSMPSL ″++″ 194 SLAPFDREPFTL″++″ 195 ALIPDLNQI ″+++″ 197 YLLTDNVVKL ″++″ 198 GLLSAVSSV ″+++″ 199SLNSTTWKV ″+++″ 200 YLLDFEDRL ″++++″ 201 YLNISQVNV ″+++″ 202 ALAAGGYDV″++″ 203 ILDTIFHKV ″+++″ 204 RLCDIVVNV ″++″ 205 TLFYESPHL ″+++″ 206SAVSGQWEV ″++″ 207 GLVGLLEQA ″++++″ 208 FLAVSLPLL ″+++″ 209 FLLDTISGL″+++″ 210 FLAEQFEFL ″+++″ 211 FIDDLFAFV ″+++″ 212 FLIGQGAHV ″+++″ 213YINEDEYEV ″++″ 214 FLFDGSMSL ″+++″ 215 QLFEEEIEL ″++″ 216 KVVSNLPAI ″++″217 AQFGAVLEV ″+++″ 218 ALDQFLEGI ″+++″ 219 ALLELENSV ″++″ 220 FLAEAPTAL″++″ 221 FLAPDNSLLLA ″++++″ 222 FLIETGTLL ″+++″ 223 FLQDIPDGLFL ″++″ 224FLSPLLPLL ″++″ 226 GVIDPVPEV ″++″ 227 IIAEGIPEA ″++″ 228 IIAEYLSYV ″++″229 ILSPWGAEV ″++++″ 230 IMDDDSYGV ″++″ 231 IVMGAIPSV ″+++″ 232KVMEGTVAA ″++″ 233 MLEVHIPSV ″+++″ 234 NLQRTVVTV ″++″ 235 SLDVYELFL″+++″ 236 SLFDGFFLTA ″++++″ 237 YLDRLIPQA ″+++″ 238 YQYGAVVTL ″+++″ 239VLIDDTVLL ″+++″ 240 ALVPTPALFYL ″+++″ 241 FIPDFIPAV ″++″ 242 GILDFZVFL″++++″ 243 GLPDLDIYL ″++++″ 244 ILEPFLPAV ″+++″ 245 KLIQLPVVYV ″+++″ 246KLPVPLESV ″+++″ 247 KVLEMETTV ″+++″ 248 NLLEQFILL ″+++″ 249 VLLESLVEI″++++″ 250 VLTNVGAAL ″+++″ 251 VLYELFTYI ″+++″ 252 YLGDLIMAL ″+++″ 253YSDDDVPSV ″++++″ 254 FLYSETWNI ″++++″ 255 GMWNPNAPVFL ″++++″ 256ALQETPPQV ″+++″ 257 FLQEWEVYA ″++++″ 258 RIYPFLLMV ″+++″ 259 TVLDGLEFKV″++++″ 260 RLDEAFDFV ″++++″ 261 FLPETRIMTSV ″++++″ 262 LMGPVVHEV ″++++″263 GLMDNEIKV ″+++″ 264 ILTGTPPGV ″+++″ 265 ILWHFVASL ″++++″ 266QLTEMLPSI ″++++″ 267 SLLETGSDLLL ″+++″ 268 VLFPLPTPL ″++++″ 269VLQNVAFSV ″++++″ 270 VVVDSDSLAFV ″++++″ 271 YLLDQPVLEQRL ″++++″ 272KLDHTLSQI ″+++″ 273 AILLPQPPK ″++″ 274 KLLNLISKL ″++++″ 275 KLMDLEDCAL″++++″ 276 NMISYVVHL ″++″ 277 FLIDLNSTHGTFL ″+++″ 278 FLLFINHRL ″+++″279 NLAGENILNPL ″+++″ 280 SLLNHLPYL ″++++″ 281 TLQTVPLTTV ″++++″ 282YLLEQGAQV ″++++″ 283 ALMPVTPQA ″+++″ 284 KLQEQIHRV ″+++″ 285 SITAVTPLL″+++″ 286 HLTEDTPKV ″+++″ 287 ILMGHSLYM ″++++″ 288 RLAPEIVSA ″+++″ 289SLLAANNLL ″++++″ 290 IASPVIAAV ″+++″ 291 KIIDTAGLSEA ″+++″ 292 KLINSQISL″+++″ 293 GLAMVEAISYV ″++++″ 294 KLYGPEGLELV ″++++″ 295 SLAAVSQQL ″+++″296 FILEPLYKI ″++++″ 297 ILQNGLETL ″+++″ 298 ALTDVILCV ″++++″ 299RLLEEEGVSL ″+++″ 300 IVLERNPEL ″+++″ 301 LQFDGIHVV ″+++″ 302 SLAELDEKISA″+++″ 303 FVWEASHYL ″++++″ 304 ALIRLDDLFL ″+++″ 305 AMLAQQMQL ″+++″ 306AQVALVNEV ″+++″ 307 FLLPVAVKL ″+++″ 308 SLLDQIPEM ″+++″ 309 SLSFVSPSL″+++″ 310 VMAEAPPGV ″+++″ 311 YLHRQVAAV ″+++″ 314 LIDDKGTIKL ″++″

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1. A peptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 311, and variant sequencesthereof which are at least 88% homologous to SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No.311, wherein said variant binds to molecule(s) of the majorhistocompatibility complex (MHC) and/or induces T cells cross-reactingwith said variant peptide; and a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof,wherein said peptide is not a full-length polypeptide.
 2. The peptide orvariant according to claim 1, wherein said peptide has the ability tobind to a MHC class-I or -II molecule, and wherein said peptide, whenbound to said MHC, is capable of being recognized by CD4 and/or CD8 Tcells.
 3. The peptide or variant thereof according to claim 1, whereinthe amino acid sequence thereof comprises a continuous stretch of aminoacids according to the group of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No.
 311. 4. Thepeptide or variant thereof according to claim 1, wherein said peptide orvariant thereof has an overall length of from 8 to 100, optionally from8 to 30, and optionally from 8 to 16 amino acids, and optionally whereinthe peptide consists or consists essentially of an amino acid sequenceaccording to the group of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No.
 311. 5. The peptidecomprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting ofSEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 311, and variant sequences thereof which areat least 88% homologous to SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 311, wherein saidvariant binds to molecule(s) of the major histocompatibility complex(MHC) and/or induces T cells cross-reacting with said variant peptide;and a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof, wherein said peptide isnot a full-length polypeptide, wherein said peptide is modified and/orincludes non-peptide bonds.
 6. The peptide or variant thereof accordingto claim 1, wherein said peptide is part of a fusion protein, optionallycomprising N-terminal amino acids of the HLA-DR antigen-associatedinvariant chain (Ii).
 7. A nucleic acid, encoding a peptide or variantthereof according to claim 1, optionally linked to a heterologouspromoter sequence.
 8. An expression vector capable of expressing thenucleic acid according to claim
 7. 9. A recombinant host cell comprisingthe peptide or variant according to claim 1, a nucleic acid encodingsaid peptide or variant or an expression vector capable of expressingsaid nucleic acid, wherein said host cell optionally is an antigenpresenting cell optionally a dendritic cell.
 10. The peptide or variantthereof according to claim 1, a nucleic acid encoding said peptide orvariant or an expression vector capable of expressing said nucleic acid,or a host cell comprising said peptide or variant, capable of being usedin medicine.
 11. A method for producing the peptide or variant thereofaccording to claim 1, the method comprising culturing a host cell thatpresents the peptide or variant, or expresses a nucleic acid encodingsaid peptide or variant or comprises an expression vector capable ofexpressing said nucleic acid, and isolating the peptide or variantthereof from the host cell or its culture medium.
 12. An in vitro methodfor producing activated T lymphocytes, the method comprising contactingin vitro T cells with antigen loaded human class I or II MHC moleculesexpressed on the surface of a suitable antigen-presenting cell or anartificial construct mimicking an antigen-presenting cell for a periodof time sufficient to activate said T cells in an antigen specificmanner, wherein said antigen is a peptide according to claim
 1. 13. Anactivated T cell, optionally an activated T lymphocyte, produced by themethod according to claim 12, that selectively recognizes a cell whichpresents a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected fromthe group consisting of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 311, and variantsequences thereof which are at least 88% homologous to SEQ ID No. 1 toSEQ ID No.
 311. 14. A method for killing target cells in a patient whichtarget cells present a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequenceselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 311,and variant sequences thereof which are at least 88% homologous to SEQID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 311, the method comprising administering to thepatient an effective number of activated T cells as defined in claim 13.15. An antibody, optionally a soluble or membrane-bound antibody, thatspecifically recognizes the peptide or variant thereof according toclaim 1, optionally the peptide or variant are bound to an MHC molecule,and wherein said antibody optionally carries a further effectorfunction, optionally an immune stimulating domain or toxin.
 16. Apeptide or variant according to claim 1, a nucleic acid encoding saidpeptide or variant or an expression vector capable of expressing saidnucleic acid, or a host cell comprising said peptide or variant, anactivated T lymphocyte that selectively recognizes a cell which presentssaid peptide or variant or the antibody optionally a soluble ormembrane-bound antibody, that specifically recognizes the peptide orvariant capable of being used in the treatment of cancer or in themanufacture of a medicament against cancer, or in a diagnostic methodfor detection of cancerous cells.
 17. The peptide or variant accordingto claim 16, wherein said cancer is selected from the group of lungcancer, kidney cancer, brain cancer, stomach cancer, colon or rectalcancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, breast cancer, Merkelcell carcinoma (MCC), melanoma, ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer,urinary bladder cancer, endometrial cancer, gall bladder cancer, andbile duct cancer, and other tumors that show an overexpression of aprotein comprising a peptide sequence of any of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ IDNo.
 311. 18. A kit comprising: (a) a container comprising apharmaceutical composition containing the peptide(s) or the variantaccording to claim 1, a nucleic acid encoding said peptide or variant oran expression vector capable of expressing said nucleic acid, or a hostcell comprising said peptide or variant, an activated T lymphocyte thatselectively recognizes a cell which presents said peptide or variant orthe antibody optionally a soluble or membrane-bound antibody, thatspecifically recognizes the peptide or variant, in solution or inlyophilized form; (b) optionally, a second container containing adiluent or reconstituting solution for the lyophilized formulation; (c)optionally, at least one more peptide selected from the group consistingof SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 328, and (d) optionally, instructions for(i) use of the solution or (ii) reconstitution and/or use of thelyophilized formulation.
 19. The kit according to claim 18, furthercomprising one or more of (iii) a buffer, (iv) a diluent, (v) a filter,(vi) a needle, or (v) a syringe.
 20. The kit according to claim 18,wherein said peptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.1 to SEQ ID No.
 311. 21. A method for producing a personalizedanti-cancer vaccine for the use as a compound-based and/or cellulartherapy for an individual patient, said method comprising: a)identifying tumor-associated peptides (TUMAPs) presented by a tumorsample from the individual patient; b) comparing the peptides asidentified in a) with a warehouse of peptides that have beenpre-screened for immunogenicity and/or over-presentation in tumors ascompared to normal tissues, wherein said warehouse of peptides is one ormore selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID 1-311; c) selecting atleast one peptide from the warehouse that matches a TUMAP identified inthe patient; and d) manufacturing or formulating the personalizedvaccine or compound-based or cellular therapy based on c).
 22. Themethod according to claim 21, wherein said TUMAPs are identified by: a1)comparing expression data from the tumor sample to expression data froma sample of normal tissue corresponding to a tissue type of the tumorsample to identify proteins that are over-expressed or aberrantlyexpressed in the tumor sample; and a2) correlating the expression datawith sequences of MHC ligands bound to MHC class I and/or class IImolecules in the tumor sample to identify MHC ligands derived fromproteins over-expressed or aberrantly expressed by the tumor.
 23. Themethod according to claim 21, wherein the sequences of MHC ligands areidentified by eluting bound peptides from MHC molecules isolated fromthe tumor sample, and sequencing the eluted ligands.
 24. The methodaccording to claim 21, wherein the normal tissue corresponding to thetissue type of the tumor sample is obtained from the same patient. 25.The method according to claim 21, wherein the peptides included in thewarehouse are identified based on the following steps: aa. Performinggenome-wide messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression analysis byhighly parallel methods, such as microarrays or sequencing-basedexpression profiling, comprising identify genes that over-expressed in amalignant tissue, compared with a normal tissue or tissues; ab.Selecting peptides encoded by selectively expressed or over-expressedgenes as detected in aa, and ac. Determining an induction of in vivoT-cell responses by the peptides as selected comprising in vitroimmunogenicity assays using human T cells from healthy donors or saidpatient; or ba. Identifying HLA ligands from said tumor sample usingmass spectrometry; bb. Performing genome-wide messenger ribonucleic acid(mRNA) expression analysis by highly parallel methods, optionallymicroarrays or sequencing-based expression profiling, comprisingidentify genes that over-expressed in a malignant tissue, compared witha normal tissue or tissues; bc. Comparing the identified HLA ligands tosaid gene expression data; bd. Selecting peptides encoded by selectivelyexpressed or over-expressed genes as detected in bc; be. Re-detecting ofselected TUMAPs from bd on tumor tissue and lack of or infrequentdetection on healthy tissues and confirming the relevance ofover-expression at the mRNA level; and bf. Determining an induction ofin vivo T-cell responses by the peptides as selected comprising in vitroimmunogenicity assays using human T cells from healthy donors or saidpatient.
 26. The method according to claim 21, wherein theimmunogenicity of the peptides included in the warehouse is determinedby a method comprising in vitro immunogenicity assays, patientimmunomonitoring for individual HLA binding, MHC multimer staining,ELISPOT assays and/or intracellular cytokine staining.
 27. The methodaccording to claim 21, wherein said warehouse comprises a plurality ofpeptides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ IDNo.
 328. 28. The method according to claim 21, further comprisingidentifying at least one mutation that is unique to the tumor samplerelative to normal corresponding tissue from the individual patient, andselecting a peptide that correlates with the mutation for inclusion inthe vaccine or for the generation of cellular therapies.
 29. The methodaccording to claim 28, wherein said at least one mutation is identifiedby whole genome sequencing.
 30. A T-cell receptor, optionally soluble ormembrane-bound, that is reactive with an HLA ligand, wherein said ligandhas at least 75% identity to an amino acid sequence selected from thegroup consisting of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No.
 311. 31. The T-cellreceptor according to claim 30, wherein said amino acid sequence is atleast 88% identical to SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No.
 311. 32. The T-cellreceptor according to claim 30, wherein said amino acid sequenceconsists any of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No.
 311. 33. The T-cell receptoraccording to claim 30, wherein said T-cell receptor is provided as asoluble molecule and optionally carries a further effector functionoptionally an immune stimulating domain or toxin.
 34. A nucleic acid,encoding for a TCR according to claim 30, optionally linked to aheterologous promoter sequence.
 35. An expression vector expressing thenucleic acid according to claim
 34. 36. A recombinant host cellcomprising the nucleic acid according to claim 34 or a nucleic acidencoding an antibody optionally a soluble or membrane-bound antibody,that specifically recognizes the peptide or variant or an expressionvector comprising said nucleic acid, wherein said host cell optionallyis a T cell or NK cell.
 37. A method for producing the T cell receptoraccording to claim 30, said method comprising culturing a host cell, andisolating said T cell receptor from said host cell and/or its culturemedium.
 38. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one activeingredient selected from the group consisting of a) a peptide selectedfrom the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 311; b) a T-cellreceptor reactive with a peptide and/or the peptide-MHC complexaccording to a); c) a fusion protein comprising a peptide according toa), and the N-terminal amino acids 1 to 80 of the HLA-DRantigen-associated invariant chain (Ii); d) a nucleic acid encoding forany of a) to c) or an expression vector comprising said nucleic acid, e)a host cell comprising the expression vector of d, f) an activatedT-lymphocyte, obtained by a method comprising contacting in vitro Tcells with a peptide according to a) expressed on the surface of asuitable antigen presenting cell for a period of time sufficient toactivate said T cell in an antigen specific manner, as well as a methodto transfer these activated T cells into the autologous or otherpatients; g) an antibody, or soluble T-cell receptor, reactive to apeptide and/or the peptide—MHC complex according to a) and/or a cellpresenting a peptide according to a), and potentially modified by fusionwith optionally immune-activating domains or toxins, h) an aptamerrecognizing a peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 1to SEQ ID No. 311, and/or a complex of a peptide selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 311 with a MHC molecule, i) aconjugated or labelled peptide or scaffold according to any of a) to h)and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and optionally,pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and/or stabilizers.
 39. Anaptamer that specifically recognizes the peptide or variant thereofaccording to claim 1, optionally the peptide or variant thereof beingbound to an MHC molecule.